Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay is facing growing pressure not to rejoin Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) amid speculation over his political future ahead of CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s visit to the western province.
Tugay, who remains an independent after leaving the CHP, has reportedly received messages from local New Party (YP) politicians, urging him not to return to his former party, according to reports citing CHP officials. Some of the messages allegedly included veiled threats.
The speculation intensified ahead of Kılıçdaroğlu’s visit to Izmir on Tuesday, where he is scheduled to make a series of visits before chairing a meeting of the CHP’s Central Executive Board (MYK).
Rumors that Tugay could meet Kılıçdaroğlu during the visit and potentially return to the CHP have prompted concern within the YP, according to the reports.
CHP officials, however, said there are currently no scheduled meetings between Kılıçdaroğlu and Tugay, while leaving open the possibility of developments during the visit. They also said the party leadership had not been in direct contact with Tugay since his resignation.
