Ömer Koç, chairman of Koç Holding, one of Turkey’s largest business conglomerates, on Monday paid a visit to Ekrem İmamoğlu to congratulate him on his success in the local election of March 31, Turkish media outlets reported.
The visit took place at the municipal building in İstanbul’s Saraçhane neighborhood during which Koç told İmamoğlu that he hopes to cooperate with İmamoğlu during his tenure as mayor.
Koç’s visit came at a critical time as Turkey’s election authority was about to make a decision as to whether or not to hold a new election in İstanbul.
Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) mayoral candidate İmamoğlu won the election in İstanbul against the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) candidate, Binali Yıldırım; however, İmamoğlu was not given the mandate to govern until April 17 because the AKP objected to the election results, asking for a recount of votes in many İstanbul districts.
Even after İmamoğlu officially began his tenure, the AKP was still trying to secure cancellation of the İstanbul vote through an application to the Supreme Election Board (YSK), which is expected to make a decision today.