Breaking news... First statement from Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding the primary election decision in CHP! 'This democratic practice is a great revolution'

CHP leader Özgür Özel announced at his party's group meeting that they will determine their presidential candidate through a primary election.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu announced his support for the CHP's presidential candidate selection process in a live broadcast on his social media account.

İmamoğlu also touched upon current issues during the live broadcast. Regarding the events that unfolded after the expert witness testimony he shared during a press conference titled 'The Big Radish', he used the phrase, "This historic disclosure has caused great panic among those who set a trap for us," and added, "That wall collapsed on those who were plotting the game."

Let no one be worried. The nation is great. I will continue to fight in every field for the children of this noble nation. There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us! https://t.co/9zlA3JqNtI

— Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) January 30, 2025

In his speech, where he addressed the expert witness testimony and his party's presidential candidate selection process, İmamoğlu noted the following:

"Journalists who reached out to the expert witness were detained with jet speed; clearly, their panic was great. While 4 journalists from Halk TV were released under judicial control after hours of detention, journalist Suat Toktaş was arrested. I send my deepest greetings to Mr. Suat and Halk TV. Get well soon to the Turkish press.

While journalists suffer great hardships, the expert witness who strives to keep people in jail is under great protection. It is clear he did not do it alone. If this incident, this lawlessness, is a crime for a journalist, I would like to remind our nation of this here.

Just before the March 31 elections, a separatist terrorist wanted with a red notice was brought onto TRT; remember, it feels like yesterday. They made him give a statement against me. Did anything happen to those who made this person speak on TRT? Nothing happened to the managers of TRT.

A handful of people are trying to silence politicians, media members, and academics, but they will not be able to silence them.

"THE ENTIRE BURDEN HAS REMAINED ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR NATION"

That is why each of you has been living with very severe poverty and livelihood difficulties for a long time. I know, you have no joy left. You are facing a government that does not understand your situation. They say a real person is one who can feel the slap that lands on someone else's face on their own face, but they do not feel it. Making one person happy is enough for them. I feel the slap that lands on someone else's face on my own face. Unfortunately, the government cannot find a solution to economic problems, and it will not be able to. For years, they deceived you with promises of an economic boom. They have made a dynamic country like Turkey, which is very easy to make soar, unmanageable. The entire burden has remained on the shoulders of our nation.

FULL SUPPORT FOR THE CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCESS

When it comes to taking responsibility, even ministers blame each other. Our party has set out to put an end to this bad course. The only way to get rid of this bottoming out is an early election. That is why our chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, has initiated a historically significant presidential candidate selection process for our party. Exactly 1 million 600 thousand CHP members will determine the candidate. This democratic practice is a great revolution. I support this decision of our party in the strongest possible way. Primary elections will unite not only our voters but the entire democratic opposition of our country. It will be a process where no one loses. My dear citizens, this path is not a path of roses. We must all join our forces in this process. We have set out on this path. There is no turning back from this path for us anymore. We will always say full speed ahead for our country.

HE WILL GIVE A STATEMENT TOMORROW

I will also be at the Çağlayan Courthouse tomorrow. I will give a statement because I said, with the feeling of a big brother and a father, "We will not let those who deem these days worthy of us live this to the children of this nation, because in our government, the judiciary will be independent." My statement will be taken because I explained to our nation the expert witness whose fake reports we exposed. Tomorrow, not only will my statement be taken, but the statements of tens of millions of our citizens who think like me will be taken. Let no one be worried, the nation is great. When the ballot box comes, everyone will see their own measure. Our excitement is high, I will continue the struggle infinitely. There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us."

News Source: 12punto