Özadam: “UBP’s Support for Tatar in Question Ahead of Presidential Election”

In his latest column, Özadam observed that while UBP may appear quiet on the surface as the election approaches, serious internal debates are underway. Although Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has publicly declared his support for incumbent President Ersin Tatar, Özadam stated that within party ranks, the sincerity of this endorsement is being questioned.

While Tatar’s candidacy is now confirmed, Özadam emphasized that the key issue is not whether he will run, but rather how much genuine backing he will receive from his own party. He claimed that there is a significant faction within UBP that has openly stated it will not support Tatar’s re-election bid.

Özadam also examined the roles of the government’s coalition partners. He noted that the Rebirth Party (Yeniden Doğuş Partisi, YDP) and the Democratic Party (DP) have both voiced support for Tatar, but behind-the-scenes negotiations and demands are reportedly at play. In particular, tensions persist between UBP and YDP regarding the distribution of cabinet positions, which has reportedly caused unrest among YDP’s grassroots base.

Additionally, Özadam referenced recent polling that suggests a narrow gap between Tatar and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman. He claimed that a professional team from Ankara is expected to play an influential role in managing the election campaign and strategy.

Should Tatar lose the presidential election, Özadam warned that coalition partners may revive calls for an early general election—a scenario that could have serious implications for both UBP and the broader government alliance.