Breaking News: Erdoğan responds to 'political ban for İmamoğlu' question: First comment on the triple summit in CHP!

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions on the plane upon his return from visits to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

Regarding the triple summit in the CHP that took place on the evening of February 9, Erdoğan commented, "They formed a triple table among themselves. It is understood that the 3 people at the table are trying to eat each other."

Regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu's ongoing 'political ban' case, Erdoğan said, "Who gets what kind of political ban or not is, first of all, not my concern," and stated that early elections are not on their agenda.

Reacting to the opposition's call for early elections, Erdoğan said, "They lie down and get up talking about elections. The AK Party organization is making preparations with its Chairman and candidate as if there will be an election tomorrow."

"CHP MAYORS ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER"

Erdoğan said the following regarding the candidacy debates in the CHP:

"CHP mayors are currently fighting among themselves. Neither I nor my colleagues have any issue with this. We are currently looking at our work. We are looking at our investments. Along with all this, we are looking to maintain the vibrant structure within our party in the same way. I am currently satisfied with my colleagues. They are all at their posts. They continue on their way by protecting their unity and togetherness in Parliament. Remember, what did they say when we described the boiling pot within the CHP just before the famous dagger incident? They said they were in complete unity and that there was never any separation among them. We do not have an agenda or concern called an election. They lie down and get up saying, 'Election, election, election, election.' Well, why an election? There is no such problem in Turkey."

The questions posed to Erdoğan by the journalists on the plane regarding domestic politics and the agenda, and his answers, are as follows:

"IF SOMEONE HAS COMMITTED A CRIME, THE JUDICIARY WILL EVALUATE IT"

QUESTION: There is a very heated process underway in the CHP to determine a presidential candidate. Over the weekend, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş met, held a meeting, and afterwards shared a photo featuring the three names to give a message of unity. At this point, how do you evaluate the candidacy race and fierce competition between Mansur Yavaş and Ekrem İmamoğlu? Will this situation result in a split in the CHP, or will the main opposition unite behind a single leadership candidate? Additionally, there was a statement from CHP leader Özgür Özel. He said, “If a political ban is imposed on Ekrem İmamoğlu, this will become a referendum for Erdoğan in the next election.” How do you evaluate this?

Who gets what kind of political ban or not is, first of all, not my concern. This is a matter for the judiciary; the judiciary follows these up. If someone has committed a crime, the judiciary will evaluate it and impose a penalty. Moreover, Tayyip Erdoğan is a mayor who was sentenced to 10 months in prison on this matter while he was mayor and served 4 months and 10 days in prison. It is not right for the esteemed Chairman to express the issue by citing this as an example. It means he will truly come out as an apprentice in these matters.

As for the CHP mayors, they are currently fighting among themselves. Neither I nor my colleagues have any issue with this. We are currently looking at our work. We are looking at our investments. Along with all this, we are looking to maintain the vibrant structure within our party in the same way. I am currently satisfied with my colleagues. They are all at their posts. They continue on their way by protecting their unity and togetherness in Parliament. Remember, what did they say when we described the boiling pot within the CHP just before the famous dagger incident? They said they were in complete unity and that there was never any separation among them. Well, what happened later? In secret Zoom summits, they made plans about who would stab Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu in the back. Remember, they even declared the person they wanted to be the country's President and put up against us as incompetent within a few months. Now, whose hand the dagger is in and whose back it will be stabbed into, honestly, I don't know that either. That is their problem. Are new Zoom summits being held, what whispers are echoing in the lobbies, and who will hit whom in this regard, I cannot know these. I don't have such a concern either. Since their concerns are never to serve the nation, they are always busy digging each other's graves.

Believe me, God protected this nation from the CHP. What would have happened to us if they had come to power in the country just as they did in some of the local administrations? We saw in the last elections how fond the main opposition is of setting up tables. Now they have set up a triple table among themselves with their mayors. Let's see what the result of that will be. It is understood that these three people at the table have started to eat each other. My citizens will quickly decide that they cannot govern Turkey by looking at the state of the municipalities managed by these people. It would be wrong to expect those who cannot even decide on their own agenda to protect Turkey's interests by reading the world agenda."

"WE DO NOT HAVE AN AGENDA OR CONCERN CALLED AN ELECTION"

"We do not have an agenda or concern called an election. They lie down and get up saying, “election, election, election, election.” Well, why an election? There is no such problem in Turkey. The AK Party organization is making preparations with its Chairman and candidate as if there will be an election tomorrow. Keeping this on the agenda and scratching at it is definitely not in our plan or program. In Ankara, the roads are impassable due to mud. The streets are full of stray dogs. The same applies to Istanbul. The same situation is the case there as well. While the citizens expect service, they are chasing political prospects."

"EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE MATTER KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CHP CONGRESS"

QUESTION: Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, referring to a speech you made in Manisa, brought up the allegation of "fraud" for the CHP congress held in November 2023 in a television program he attended. Subsequently, an investigation was launched in Bursa regarding this issue. With the decision of lack of jurisdiction within the scope of the investigation in question, it turned out that there was an investigation being conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the same subject. Within the framework of all these developments, how do you evaluate the congress debate taking place in the CHP?

"As I stated, these are not our problems. These are entirely the problems of the judiciary. If I, as a political party leader and President, take them as interlocutors, if it occupies my agenda, it belittles me. It is impossible for me to accept such a thing.

Let me say this clearly and plainly: all of this is entirely a matter for the judiciary. We will see what kind of action the judiciary takes regarding this with the decision it will make. These are the reflections of the fight between the new management of the CHP and the old management. However, the network of crooked relationships there negatively affects the entire political institution.

Everyone involved in the matter knows what happened at the CHP congress. But they play the three monkeys by saying, “I didn't see, I didn't hear, I don't know.” Whereas they saw, they heard, they experienced, they know. The subject has also been referred to the judiciary. As a result of the investigation of the allegations by the judiciary, it is likely that many truths will emerge. You see, the previous Chairman of the party, Kılıçdaroğlu, cannot say “there is no fraud.” He only says that the current CHP management needs to make a statement. The CHP management, on the other hand, does not touch on the subject at all so that their secrets are not exposed. Let's see from what pit the bad smells there are coming?"

"WE WILL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY FOR ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE"

QUESTION: Based on the hotel fire tragedy in Bolu Kartalkaya, how do you evaluate the need to take a structural step? For example, the establishment of a more comprehensive fire department across Turkey that is not left only to the municipal scale, similar to AFAD. At the same time, has the work of the ministries regarding additional measures to be taken in these facilities where citizens stay intensively, especially public facilities and hospitals, reached a certain stage with your directive? And most importantly, there is a debate about some uncertainties regarding the boundaries of responsibility or authority between the central government and local government. Will a step be taken at that point as well?

"First of all, I wish God's mercy upon our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the fire tragedy in Bolu Kartalkaya, and I once again offer my condolences to their relatives. The incident in Kartalkaya is very, very tragic. No one should have any doubt that this incident in Bolu, which hurt us, will be clarified. What can be done to prevent a recurrence, what kind of deficiency caused this disaster, what measures should we take? The answer to all these questions will be given. If a regulation is necessary, it will definitely be done. As you know, our Parliament has already established an investigation commission. I believe that the report that this commission will provide regarding the investigation measures there will also be a guide for us. It is extremely important to take the necessary precautions to ensure that such events do not happen again.

It is essential that we undergo a change in mentality in our approach to the issue. Introducing new criteria regarding fire safety will be a critical step for risky areas such as hotels, public buildings, hospitals, and plazas. Increasing fire safety standards and conducting regular inspections in such places is necessary both to ensure life safety and to prevent property loss. Determining the powers and responsibilities of local governments and the central administration is also very, very important. While local governments take fire safety measures in their own regions, the central administration should ensure the inspection of these practices.

The work that the government will carry out through ministries regarding fire safety following such events is also extremely important. It is inevitable for the safety of society that both local governments and the central administration cooperate to develop and implement an effective strategy in the field of fire safety. We will do whatever is necessary for all those responsible to be held accountable in the case referred to the judiciary. As a state, we will also do whatever is necessary so that our tourism sector, one of the locomotives of our country's economy, is not harmed by such disasters."

"A NEW CONSTITUTION PROCESS BEFORE THE ELECTION IS IMPORTANT"

QUESTION: For a while, the new constitution seems to have lost its weight on the agenda due to both agendas such as Gaza and Syria and urgent agendas in domestic politics. I would like to ask you to provide information about this process, and will Turkey enter a new constitution process before the election that will also affect the election?

"First of all, the issue of the constitution is on the agenda, it takes its place in the top ranks. As you know, this issue is always on our agenda. We continue our work without forgetting the reality of Turkey's need for a new constitution. We will continue to explain that the constitution, which leaves Turkey behind in the changing world and is a shackle on its feet, needs to be renewed. A civil constitution that is conciliatory, unifying, libertarian, and encompasses all segments of society is one of our main goals. As we have said before, we keep this constitutional issue on our agenda not because of agenda concerns, but because it is a real need. A new and civil constitution has great importance for the future of Turkey. We do not see this process as just creating a legal document. We see the civil constitution as guaranteeing the democratic values, gains regarding human rights, and individual freedoms that we have brought to Turkey in 22 years. The fact that the subject occasionally loses its weight on the agenda does not reduce the need for a new constitution. On the contrary, this process can come to the agenda before the elections and create more discussion and participation in society.

A new constitution process before the election will be quite important in terms of both political parties and society expressing their views on this issue. Considering Turkey's diversity and dynamic social structure, a new constitution preparation will offer a critical opportunity to create an inclusive and fair framework that takes into account the needs of broad segments of society. All segments of society should evaluate the new constitution as an opportunity for Turkey's future. This process can be not only a political tool but also an important step for social peace and solidarity. It is possible in the meantime to form a draft constitution that responds to Turkey's needs with the support and participation of the public. As the People's Alliance, we have shown our sincerity on this issue with concrete examples at every opportunity. We expect the same sensitivity from other political parties that have groups in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey."

QUESTION: Mr. President, I will return to domestic politics a little bit. There are a few days left until the AK Party congress. There are talks and debates in Ankara such as “Will there be a change in the cabinet at the same time as your party management?” You have always called this a relay race. The most curious subject is what kind of a cabinet it will be, what kind of an A-team it will be? Also, there is a comment that this A-team will also be your election team. Is that so, sir?

"You want to learn from me what kind of team we will field. No coach fields a team without reading it. We are currently working on it. You saw Istanbul, what enthusiasm there was. Besides this enthusiasm, what kind of structuring we realized there. We did not field the same staff in Istanbul either. We fielded a beautiful staff in both the main echelon and the youth and women's branches together with our new provincial chairman. Now, on the one hand, we are making our preparations for the congress we will hold on the 23rd. There, too, we will establish a dynamic structure consisting of the main echelon, women, and youth. With this dynamic structure, I hope we will prepare a list by taking into account the demographic structure of all of Turkey and present it to the political arena, I hope. As the AK Party, we have always seen our congresses as an opportunity for renewal and refreshment. Each of our congresses has also been an important turning point for the AK Party and Turkey. Because we determined our staff who manage our party and our country with our Grand Congresses. We have always seen these processes not as a race for office, but as a relay race between staff burning with the love of service. Our goal has always been to carry our party further and strengthen our understanding of service."

News Source: 12punto