Turkey: CHP names Ankara, Istanbul mayoral candidates

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's main opposition party on Tuesday announced its candidates for mayor in the key cities of Ankara and Istanbul for elections next March.

Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal Kilicdaroglu nominated Mansur Yavas for mayor of the capital Ankara in the upcoming polls. Yavas also ran for Ankara mayor in 2014, but lost to the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party candidate.

For the commercial capital Istanbul -- a city almost one-fifth of Turkish citizens call home -- the party will field Ekrem Imamoglu, Kilicdaroglu said.

Turkey's local elections are scheduled for March 31, 2019.