AK Party’s Sovereignty Over Istanbul Threatened

Polls show current mayor of Istanbul Sisli district Mustafa Sarigul is likely to win local elecations as main opposition CHP candidate if he chooses to run in 2014.    
Mustafa Sarigul, one of the two candidates for the leadership of the Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) waves to his supporters at the beginning of his party's 13th extraordinary congress gathered in Ankara, January 29, 2005, where the new leader of the party will be elected. Deniz Baykal, the CHP's leader, is being challenged by Mustafa Sarigul, mayor of a district of Istanbul. A total of 1,253 delegates will cast their votes to elect the new leader. REUTERS/Umit Bektas UB/THI - RTR1
Mustafa Sarigul waves to supporters at the beginning of the Republican Peoples Party's 13th extraordinary congress in Ankara, Jan. 29, 2005. Although later expelled from the CHP, he may now run on its banner in the Istanbul mayor's race next year. - REUTERS/Umit Bektas
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Kadri Gürsel
@KadriGursel
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Turkey can be roughly divided in two: Istanbul and the rest of the country. Istanbul is the role model for all Turkey. Turkey emulates Istanbul. It doesn’t matter whether it is political, cultural, social, economic, sports, whatever. There are two prerequisites for any trend to be adopted by Turkey: To originate from Istanbul or to be approved by Istanbul. Any trend that is not adopted by Istanbul is bound to remain ineffectually local.

Istanbul is the key junction of the country. Istanbul decides who passes through that junction and who can’t. Therefore it is not possible to win Turkey without winning in Istanbul. Or, those who lose Istanbul in the end will lose the country. This rule has never been negated.

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