Erdogan Directly Challenges former Minister Over Mersin Political Strategy
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A Surprise Meeting and a Direct Warning
On August 9th, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a surprise meeting with former Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati at the Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul. Sources indicate the meeting, initiated by Nebati, took an unexpected turn when Erdogan expressed dissatisfaction with the political efforts in the province of Mersin. According to reports, Erdogan directly told Nebati, “You neglect your election area. Go to Mersin more frequently enough.”
The meeting has sparked speculation about a potential reconciliation between the two figures, though the primary focus appears to be on addressing the AKP’s weak standing in Mersin.
Mersin: A Persistent Challenge for the AKP
Mersin has long been a difficult region for the Justice and Advancement Party (AKP) to gain a foothold. The 2023 parliamentary elections saw the AKP garner only 24% of the vote in the province, while erdogan himself secured 37% in the presidential election – placing second. This pattern of underperformance continued in the 2024 local elections, where the AKP, supporting a candidate from the MHP, lost the metropolitan municipality and failed to win any of Mersin’s 13 districts.
Notably,the AKP has never held the Metropolitan Municipality of Mersin since the party’s founding,highlighting the consistent challenges it faces in connecting with voters in the region.
| Election Year | AKP Parliamentary Vote (%) | Erdogan Presidential Vote (%) | Metropolitan Municipality Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 24 | 37 | Loss |
| 2024 | N/A | N/A | Loss |
