Mansur Yavaş responds to 'candidacy' question with 'poll' results! 'Ekrem Bey is also a notch below...'

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş visited journalist Fatih Altaylı, who is currently detained at Silivri Prison. Yavaş made significant assessments regarding the current agenda during his visit.

Yavaş clarified his conversation with former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the remarks that were reflected in the public eye: "If you take the chairman's seat by a court decision and try to make me a presidential candidate, I will not accept it and I will resign from the party."

Speaking to Fatih Altaylı, Yavaş stated that the purpose of these expressions was different, noting, "I didn't just use those words. I didn't say this directly to Kemal Bey, but so that those around him would hear. Some names from Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's inner circle were saying childish things where I could hear them, claiming that as soon as Kemal Bey became chairman, he would immediately announce Mansur Bey's candidacy, and this was spreading. I made such a statement to silence them."

"WHILE EKREM IS IN THIS SITUATION..."

Yavaş responded clearly to the debates surrounding his presidential candidacy. Drawing attention to a fellow traveler (Ekrem İmamoğlu) who is currently imprisoned, Yavaş said, "It is shameful and disrespectful for me to talk about candidacy while Ekrem is in this situation. I would never do such a thing. Right now, the candidate of the party, our party, and all of us is Ekrem İmamoğlu. While he and our other mayors are in the dungeons of Silivri as a result of such injustice and lawlessness, I will not even take the word 'candidacy' into my mouth."

"THE SLANDER OF THE SLANDERER IS VALID. THE DEFENSE OF THE DEFENDER IS INVALID!"

Reacting to the detention and arrest processes targeting CHP municipalities, Yavaş described the ongoing process as lawlessness:

"They are slandering honest, honorable, and dignified people. No one is saying 'don't prosecute,' but what is this about detention, where has it been seen? The slander of the slanderer is valid. The defense of the defender is invalid. Is this the rule of law? There is no such law of threats and blackmail."

Stating that similar reports have been made against them since the first day he took office, Yavaş said, "I took office in 2019. A report came in. They said, 'They had a door built for 200,000 that I would have built for 50,000.' We caught them, we said. It turned out to be a lie. It always happens. There have been 109 complaints against us as well. Inspectors came. 10 of the investigations were completed. We were cleared. 8 are ongoing. We will be cleared of those too. Investigate, research, no one is saying don't research, but can there be an arrest? CHP municipalities are not afraid of audits. We are already being audited constantly."

"ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S RALLIES MUST CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED"

Stating that the rallies held by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel are resonating with the public, Yavaş said, "They must continue. They must continue uninterrupted," and added: "If the government is this uncomfortable with it, it means we are doing something right. I think it has brought a great atmosphere. Citizens who are afraid, who don't speak up but are rebelling inside, come there and see someone saying what they want to say. Even if they don't shout, they nod their heads. The rallies are very effective and very important."

Yavaş argued that the CHP's stance on religious issues is now more balanced. He gave the following response to Altaylı's question regarding "the rise in the CHP and where it will lead":

"The CHP is no longer making mistakes regarding religion. Neither the mayors, nor the deputies, and the conservative voters have seen and understood that voting for the CHP does not send them to hell. This will increase the votes coming to the CHP, and it is increasing them."

"LET ONE OF US DO IT, WHOEVER IT MAY BE!"

Mansur Yavaş also expressed the following regarding his presidential candidacy:

"I say, let one of us do it, whoever it may be. The important thing is to get rid of this. We need to get rid of this mentality for our children, for our grandchildren, for the youth. Whoever saves us, that's fine. There is no 'me, you, or him.' Ekrem can be the president. Özgür Bey is shining. He can do it now. I can do it. Let one of us do it, whoever it may be.

There is a sentence in a book called 'Once Upon a Time in America.' It says: 'We Americans, when a problem arises, sit at the table and think about how to solve it.' We have to do the same. Look, we are facing those who say the 100-year ordeal is ending. No, I'm not talking about Yeliz. Those who pose as intellectuals among them are writing this. We need to get rid of this."

"WE ARE BOTH FAR AHEAD OF TAYYİP BEY"

Yavaş gave a clear answer to Altaylı's question, "These statements of yours can be perceived as you no longer wanting to be a candidate. Is there a decline in your popularity?"

Stating that he does not commission polls on his own behalf, Yavaş gave an example from a result published in the public domain:

"I swear I don't commission any polls or anything, but I saw Metropol's poll. The owner doesn't like me. I don't like the owner. There is 60% support for me there. Ekrem Bey is also a notch behind. We are both far ahead of Tayyip Bey. But I will not talk about these issues while Ekrem is inside."