Turkey's top capitalist organization expressed "concern" over decision to re-run Istanbul elections

TÜSİAD, Turkey's biggest capitalist organization, made a short statement on social media after the cancellation of the elections in Istanbul
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 09:12

Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) made a statement on the decision of the election council to rerun Istanbul votes. The capitalist organization expressed "concern" over entering a new election process although Turkey "has to focus on a comprehensive economic and democratic reform agenda".

Last month, TÜSİAD released a supportive statement for AKP that declared an anti-labor economic package after the local elections, announcing that they were satisfied with the government’s steps for the new economic program.

Ömer Çelik, the spokesman for the AKP, replied the unsupportive message that came from capitalists. Çelik stated that TÜSİAD is not an institution with the powers of the YSK and the organization is constantly concerned when there is a political debate.

On Monday, one of Turkey's biggest capitalists, Koç Holding, had paid a visit to the elected mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu. Koç Holding Chairman Ömer Koç and Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu congratulated İmamoğlu, according to the sources. 

The visit was scheduled on the same day when the Supreme Election Council (YSK) met to decide on the appeal of the ruling AKP to rerun elections. The decision of the YSK was announced in favor of AKP after the visit and YSK decided to cancel the official mandate given to opposition candidate İmamoğlu.