Kocasakal reclaimed Istanbul Bar presidency with 10,227 votes

At the Istanbul Bar Association's 128th Regular General Assembly held at the Haliç Convention Center, Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocasakal, candidate of the Republican Power Union and former bar president, was elected as the new chair with 10,227 votes, capturing 34.05 percent. Bianet reported this, citing ANKA News Agency.

Of the bar association's 68,469 members—approximately 70,000 lawyers are registered—30,036 went to the polls. One hundred seventy-two ballot boxes were established under the supervision of the election authority. Incumbent Chair Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kaboğlu came second with 7,022 votes, obtaining 23.38 percent, and transferred his office. According to unofficial results, the other candidates received the following votes: Atakan Adem Selanik 3,809, Hasan Kılıç 3,557, Korkut Kanadoğlu 2,543, Arife Gökkaya Dinç 1,477, Salih Uçar 713, Gülbeyaz Karadeniz 515, Metin Üraçin 173.

Following the election, Kocasakal said the bar would be "a defender of the unitary structure, the nation state, and the first four immutable articles of the Constitution"; he closed his remarks with the words "The Istanbul Bar has returned." Kaboğlu took the podium to congratulate Kocasakal.