[95494] Political Shake-up in Ankara: Haymana Mayor Leaves CHP and Joins Ruling Party

Political Shake-up in Ankara: Haymana Mayor Moves to the AKP

A political drama unfolded today (June 22, 2026) in Ankara, when the Mayor of Haymana, Levent Koç, announced his resignation from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and his move to the ranks of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). According to reports in gdh, which is identified with ongoing coverage of government positions, the move was finalized during an "AKP organizational meeting in Ankara," where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially presented the party pin to Koç.

The reports of the move were confirmed by several media outlets, including A Haber and İhlas Haber Ajansı, which emphasize the importance of the event for the AKP's strength in the region. The TGRT HABER channel described the move as "another shock" within the CHP, following a period of persistent rumors about the expected defections of additional mayors in the region from opposition-influenced areas to the ruling camp.

At the same time, an attempt by the opposition to present a unified front against the AKP's recruitment efforts is evident. The Gündem Hattı channel, which reports from a critical perspective, emphasized that the Mayor of Nallıhan, Ertunç Güngör, strongly denied rumors that he was also expected to defect to the ranks of the ruling power. Güngör stated that he remains loyal to his party and to the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavaş, and called to stop the attempts to "isolate" Yavaş through rumors of defections.

As of now, while the AKP is celebrating the addition of Koç as a significant political achievement, channels such as Gündem Analiz point out that the political picture among local authorities in Ankara remains tense, with uncertainty regarding potential additional joinings that may be announced during upcoming party meetings.