Turkey: Erdogan announces 20 mayoral candidates

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

Turkish president and leader of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Tuesday announced 20 mayoral candidates for March 2019 local elections.

Candidates for eight metropolitan municipalities and 12 provincial municipalities were named at the party's parliamentary group meeting in the capital Ankara.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan nominated former Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci for Izmir mayorship in the upcoming local elections.

Mehmet Ozhaseki, the party's deputy chairman and former minister of environment and urbanization, will run for Ankara mayorship.

The candidates for Afyonkarahisar, Balikesir, Bingol, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Eskisehir, Hatay, Karaman, Konya, Mardin, Mus, Sakarya, Sivas, Tokat, Trabzon, Usak and Yozgat provinces were also announced.

The candidate for Istanbul was not revealed on Tuesday; however, Parliament Speaker Binali Yildirim is the top contender for the spot.

On Saturday, Erdogan announced the list of 40 mayoral candidates including 14 metropolitan municipalities and 26 provincial municipalities.

The local elections in Turkey are scheduled on March 31, 2019.