Introducing Ankara’s new mayor, Mansur Yavas

Mansur Yavas, who ran on behalf of the Nation’s Alliance, which was set up by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) social-democratic political party and the IYI nationalist party, has been elected mayor of Turkey’s capital for the next five years after securing 50.9 percent of the total number of votes.

In Ankara, where nationalist votes are crucial for electing the metropolitan mayor, he has appeared to embody the right political formula, having the backing of both ends of the political spectrum.

He celebrated his victory to lead the city of 5.5 million people with pledges to build new industrial parks, renovate the historic city and invest in tourism.

Prior to the 2014 local elections, Yavas had run for Ankara’s mayorship twice after joining the CHP. Although he lost at the time, he was able to enhance his voter base.

He served as city councilor in Beypazarı in between 1989 and 1994 and was elected mayor in 1999, serving two consecutive terms spanning a decade.

In 2009, he came third in a race to lead the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, having been elected to run by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

He was awarded by the Turkish Language Institution for his work in helping to protect Turkish and also won recognition for his work as mayor through the acquisition of several awards.

Yavas is the creator of the "Beypazari model", which is applied to social municipal work in conjunction with non-governmental organizations.

He was born in Ankara’s Beypazarı district in 1955 and graduated from Istanbul University’s faculty of law in 1983.

He began his career as a lawyer in his hometown three years after graduating.