Is US Ambassador Flake lobbying for İmamoğlu’s presidential candidacy?

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu spoke very assertively regarding the 2023 elections, and said, “We will beat them in the first round. There is no doubt. The ruling government can no longer win this election, and we have no intention to lose.” When İmamoğlu stated that the presidential candidate to be elected should have no “ego or arrogance,” İsmail Küçükkaya asked, “Sir, are you arrogant?” Upon this question, İmamoğlu said, “I am assertive but never arrogant. I am quite humble. They can ask what I am like to my staff,” and announced openly once more that he will be running for president. Mansur Yavaş, who is claimed to be the opposition bloc of six parties and especially Good Party (İP) leader Meral Akşener and the party’s candidate, on the other hand, is taking a more political position. Yavaş said whatever the opposition bloc of six parties says goes, both alluding to Kılıçdaroğlu, and sending a positive message to the bloc leaders. Therefore, does İmamoğlu’s open declaration to important left-wing figure İsmail Saymaz that he will be running for president, first, despite main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, mean he is ignoring not only Kılıçdaroğlu but also the leaders of the opposition block, or that he has received the go signal from the West and the U.S. regarding presidency? İmamoğlu exposing himself in this manner while he is carrying out a task regarding the meetings he held with Imperialist Ambassadors and some senators in the U.S. House of Representatives was unexpected. One other important matter is the U.S. ambassador’s efforts to design politics in Türkiye through open intervention. Surely the Istanbul mayor’s response to the Imperialists and the Turkish public regarding allegations that he is acting against Türkiye’s interests in accordance with Imperialist powers’ interests is important. 

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Jeffrey Flake is lobbying in cooperation, especially with the leaders of the opposition bloc for İmamoğlu’s candidacy against Kılıçdaroğlu. The U.S. ambassador visited opposition leaders for about one month between April and May 2022. When he first came to office, he wasted no time to first visit İmamoğlu, and started panic tours when Kılıçdaroğlu stood out as a candidate. Flake, who paid his first visit to İmamoğlu on Jan. 26, went to the CHP Head Office on April 13, and met with Kılıçdaroğlu. According to the claim, based on his instructions, Flake passed on the following message to Kılıçdaroğlu in an appropriate manner: “As an Alevi, it is difficult for you to achieve success in the presidential election. You must pave the way for Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding candidacy. If you continue to insist on candidacy, İmamoğlu will run for president with İP and Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP) support anyway. You must continue to lead the CHP.” Following the CHP visit, Flake went to see İP leader Akşener, and HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar. Flake’s visit to these two parties following the visit to Kılıçdaroğlu is interpreted as “support tours for İmamoğlu.” Flake, who visited the İP and the HDP, later met with DEVA Party leader Ali Babacan upon receiving instruction from his country. 

The “Opportunities and Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean: Examining U.S. Interests and Regional Cooperation” hearing organized in the U.S. by the House of Representatives was scene to interesting confessions about Türkiye. The hearing moderated by House members Ted Deutch and Bill Keating, revealed Mayor İmamoğlu’s new secret relations. Congress member William Richard Keating stated that they are communicating with İmamoğlu to realign Türkiye with the West. Keating, who stated Türkiye’s realignment with the West is inevitable, provided no information about when the said communication took place, but he did give the impression that meetings are ongoing. Praising the Turkish opposition’s achievements in the local election against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Keating said, “It makes no sense to think Türkiye will not change. They will change, it is bright and clear. Locally, democratic efforts in Istanbul and other regions are ongoing. The course is in a certain direction, and where it will lead in the future is very clear.” Keating who rhetorically asked, “What can we do differently to what we are doing now regarding Türkiye?” said, “We met with Istanbul’s mayor and others. This is a card we have to play now. We cannot wait for Türkiye to reach this point. We need to draw them [Türkiye] to our axis, for their benefit... The U.S. must do something. The U.S. must take action for Türkiye to realize its real gain. Their connection with Russia is not logical.” 

The Pentagon report claims, “Kılıçdaroğlu will not win, and despite İmamoğlu failing with his 3.5-year performance as Istanbul mayor, opposition leaders are steering clear of the failed mayor because they are afraid of being left in the background. It is said that while there is concern that President Erdoğan’s likely win in 2023 will turn upside down the West’s hegemony, the Turkish opposition is refusing to challenge Erdoğan and present an alternative vision to voters. It was noted that the opposition’s two-decade ongoing failure will not change in this extremely critical election either. 

The U.S.-based military analysis magazine, The National Interest, which supports the opposition in Türkiye, stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will easily win the 2023 presidential elections due to the opposition bloc of six table’s fight for the throne.