Politics · Turkey · 12 hrs ago
Çağatay Güç wins YENİ Party’s İzmir leadership primary
YENİ Party members in İzmir chose Çağatay Güç in a leadership primary held on October 18.
He defeated Aziz Kocaoğlu, who led İzmir’s metropolitan municipality for years, by 18,511 votes to 14,167.
The vote was held across 30 districts, and 32,678 of the 61,115 eligible members took part, a turnout of 53.5%.
Güç is an engineer and the party’s founding İzmir provincial chair; he joined YENİ Party after leaving CHP in July 2026.
The result is provisional, and party officials say there will be a period for objections.
Güç is expected to be the candidate at the provincial congress, where delegates will vote on October 25.
He will become provincial chair only if elected at the congress.
Çağatay Güç won YENİ Party’s İzmir leadership primary with 18,511 votes, ahead of Aziz Kocaoğlu, who received 14,167.
The unofficial result gave Güç a lead of 4,344 votes in the two-candidate contest.
Voting took place across İzmir’s 30 districts and 159 ballot boxes, which closed at 18:00 on 18 October.
Of the eligible party members, 32,678 voted, a turnout of 53.5%, according to the announced figures.
The result is not final, and Güç is due to stand as the leadership candidate at the party’s İzmir provincial congress.
- Who
- Çağatay Güç and Aziz Kocaoğlu competed. Güç won.
- What
- Güç won YENİ Party’s İzmir provincial leadership primary.
- When
- Voting ended at 18:00 on 18 October 2026.
- Where
- Across İzmir’s 30 districts, at 159 ballot boxes.
- Why
- Party members voted to choose the candidate for the İzmir provincial leadership; the sources do not state a further reason.
Çağatay Güç
Aziz Kocaoğlu
Primary result
Çağatay Güç
Güç received 18,511 votes and won.
Aziz Kocaoğlu
Kocaoğlu received 14,167 votes.
Next step
Çağatay Güç
Güç was named the leadership candidate for the coming provincial congress, subject to the result being finalized.
Aziz Kocaoğlu
Kocaoğlu congratulated Güç and said his candidacy had delivered its intended message.
The İzmir provincial leadership primary process began with candidates’ speeches at Tepekule Congress Center.
Members voted across İzmir, and the ballot boxes closed at 18:00.
Unofficial results showed Güç with 18,511 votes and Kocaoğlu with 14,167.
YENİ Party’s İzmir provincial congress is scheduled to take place at Tepekule Congress Center in Bayraklı.
- Güç’s votes
- 18,511
- Kocaoğlu’s votes
- 14,167
- Winning margin
- 4,344 votes
- Turnout
- 32,678 voters; 53.5%
- Voting locations
- 30 districts and 159 ballot boxes in İzmir
3 sources
What people are saying
This result means that Çağatay Güç is the candidate for provincial chair at the İzmir provincial organization’s congress next week.
Aziz Başkan is a brand value of this city.
We set out to give hope to young people, women, workers, farmers and retirees.
We did our duty and made a note in history.