Local Elections '14: AK Party aims to break losing streak in Izmir
Politics |
Izmir province -- traditionally a stronghold of Turkey's leftist parties since 1999 -- is where the ruling party has yet to win.
Anadolu Agency will follow the local elections on March 30 in Turkey's third largest city Izmir with a population of around 4 million. Ruling AK Party's former transport minister, Binali Yildirim, will compete for the metropolitan municipality against the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) candidate, Aziz Kocaoglu, who has served the province since 2004.
Turkey's biggest port city Izmir, prides itself on its busy schedule of trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses. It was a candidate to host Expo 2015 and 2020 but lost out to bids from Italy's Milano for 2015, and Dubai for 2020.
The AK Party asserts that Izmir lost the Expo bids due to its lack of infrastructure, however, CHP counters that its failure was due to inadequate financial support to Izmir from the central government.
Yildirim, whose electoral slogan is "town-planning movement of the century," has been deemed by his party supporters as the most successful transport minister of all times.
Izmir's incumbent MP Yildirim is running for Izmir with 35 "giant projects" -- 35 being the car registration plate number of Izmir. The projects aims to strengthen Izmir's transport infrastructure, accelerate the economy, and generate employment in the province.
Yildirim committed to invest a total of TRY17.46 billion ($7.9 billion) in Izmir, with TRY15.5 billion ($7 billion) for rail system projects, TRY1 billion ($454 million) for road projects, TRY780 million ($354 million) for marine transportation projects, and TRY190 million ($86.3 million) for parking area projects.
"If you have an idea or a new start for Izmir for the town-planning movement of the century, I am waiting to hear it," announced Yildirim via his web page and on his electoral banners targeting Izmir's voters.
However, if Yildirim wins the election Sunday, it will be not be consistent with Turkish polls.
Kocaoglu, the main opposition candidate who has been serving Izmir as metropolitan municipality mayor for 2004, has been nominated as a candidate for a third term by CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Kocaoglu won the former local election with 55.2 percent of the votes in 2009 against AK Party's 30.7 percent.
"Turkey is in a serious political crisis ahead of the local elections on March 30," said Kocaoglu referring to the anti-graft operation launched on December 17.
He points to the AK Party's ruling term in Turkey since 2002, and declares that the crisis has taken its source from the governing party's ruling skills.
Kocaoglu orchestrated a sustainable urban development in Izmir which will make its mark in the world's economy and he has further plans to develop new recreational areas along the Izmir Gulf.
Among his most important election campaign promises is the improvement of Izmir's transportation system by increasing the 96 km ?of transport routes to 302.6 km including those for subways and light railways.
Turkey's biggest port city Izmir, prides itself on its busy schedule of trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses. It was a candidate to host Expo 2015 and 2020 but lost out to bids from Italy's Milano for 2015, and Dubai for 2020.
The AK Party asserts that Izmir lost the Expo bids due to its lack of infrastructure, however, CHP counters that its failure was due to inadequate financial support to Izmir from the central government.
Yildirim, whose electoral slogan is "town-planning movement of the century," has been deemed by his party supporters as the most successful transport minister of all times.
Izmir's incumbent MP Yildirim is running for Izmir with 35 "giant projects" -- 35 being the car registration plate number of Izmir. The projects aims to strengthen Izmir's transport infrastructure, accelerate the economy, and generate employment in the province.
Yildirim committed to invest a total of TRY17.46 billion ($7.9 billion) in Izmir, with TRY15.5 billion ($7 billion) for rail system projects, TRY1 billion ($454 million) for road projects, TRY780 million ($354 million) for marine transportation projects, and TRY190 million ($86.3 million) for parking area projects.
"If you have an idea or a new start for Izmir for the town-planning movement of the century, I am waiting to hear it," announced Yildirim via his web page and on his electoral banners targeting Izmir's voters.
However, if Yildirim wins the election Sunday, it will be not be consistent with Turkish polls.
Kocaoglu, the main opposition candidate who has been serving Izmir as metropolitan municipality mayor for 2004, has been nominated as a candidate for a third term by CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Kocaoglu won the former local election with 55.2 percent of the votes in 2009 against AK Party's 30.7 percent.
"Turkey is in a serious political crisis ahead of the local elections on March 30," said Kocaoglu referring to the anti-graft operation launched on December 17.
He points to the AK Party's ruling term in Turkey since 2002, and declares that the crisis has taken its source from the governing party's ruling skills.
Kocaoglu orchestrated a sustainable urban development in Izmir which will make its mark in the world's economy and he has further plans to develop new recreational areas along the Izmir Gulf.
Among his most important election campaign promises is the improvement of Izmir's transportation system by increasing the 96 km ?of transport routes to 302.6 km including those for subways and light railways.
Similar News
