İmamoğlu speaks on new party allegations: 'We will either find a way or make a way'

CHP's Presidential Candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained in Silivri Prison, made evaluations regarding the absolute nullity process within the CHP.

Answering questions from journalist Merdan Yanardağ, who is also detained in Silivri Prison, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "I see the absolute nullity process as the final stage of the hopelessness of a handful of people who have lost hope in politics and the nation. A group of people positioned in politics, media, and the judiciary are holding all of Turkey hostage. And Erdoğan gives the orders."

Regarding the stance of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the CHP Chairmanship by a court decision, İmamoğlu said, "The Republican People's Party has been under a multi-faceted siege for a long time. Mayors are being arrested, its administrators are being targeted, and the party's capacity to be an alternative to the government is being attempted to be neutralized. I do not see the preference of some names to turn and walk through the corridor opened by this siege during such a period as merely a political stance. I object to this. I am not curious about the intentions of those acting as trustees. To be honest, I don't care what they think... History will not look kindly on those who cannot defeat the Republican People's Party from the outside and seek to achieve results from within," he said.

Speaking about the new party allegations, Ekrem İmamoğlu assessed, "The convention is both a requirement of the law and our right. However, if a trusteeship is being established in the CHP with directives received from the palace, we will do what is necessary. We will never leave this nation hopeless and without options. We will either find a way or make a way. We will continue our walk on the path pointed out by the nation."

The questions by Merdan Yanardağ and the answers by Ekrem İmamoğlu published on tele2haber.com are as follows:

1-How do you evaluate the absolute nullity process?

Mr. Yanardağ, first of all, I greet you, knowing the value of being able to convey our words to each other even without seeing each other within the same walls.

The reason for what we are experiencing is clear...

The term of this tired, exhausted, and frowning government has expired. Our nation has lit the fire of change. Erdoğan has been defeated by his ambition for his seat, and his party, which has forgotten how to do politics by being busy with trade, has been defeated by a few people who have taken positions in the bureaucracy.

I see the absolute nullity process as the final stage of the hopelessness of a handful of people who have lost hope in politics and the nation.

A group of people positioned in politics, media, and the judiciary are holding all of Turkey hostage. And Erdoğan gives the orders.

He wants to protect his power, and those he gives orders to want to reach a power that covers all the capillaries of Turkey. They are never satisfied, they never stop.

With Erdoğan's permission and order; they throw whoever they want into prison, they blackmail, and they cast aspersions on people's freedom, dignity, and honor with the ugliest lies.

It is not enough; they are displaying a desperation that will stage a coup against the party founded by Atatürk.

Against this desperation, there are the hopes of the nation. Our dreams about the future, our goals, and the desire to live in peace as a nation stand there.

At the end of the day, I sincerely believe that the conscience and heart of the nation will prevail.

KILIÇDAROĞLU'S STANCE

2- What do you think about the stance taken by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his friends during this process?

Let me be clear, Mr. Merdan. I do not evaluate what is happening in this process merely as a political disagreement.

In politics, people can think differently, criticize each other, and compete with each other. None of these bother me. This is what we call democracy.

But the picture we are facing here is different. The Republican People's Party has been under a multi-faceted siege for a long time. Mayors are being arrested, its administrators are being targeted, and the party's capacity to be an alternative to the government is being attempted to be neutralized. I do not see the preference of some names to turn and walk through the corridor opened by this siege during such a period as merely a political stance.

I object to this.

I am not curious about the intentions of those acting as trustees. To be honest, I don't care what they think. I also don't think Turkey has time to spare for this. Millions of retirees in this country are struggling to make a living. Its youth are living with anxiety about the future. People are looking for justice, looking for prosperity, looking for a climate to breathe in. I do not find it right that all attention is turned to what one person is calculating or planning during such a period.

I am looking at something else: I am looking at what kind of calculations the political legacy of over a century, the hope of millions of people, and the will for change are being subjected to.

Some people represent the place they are in. Others, despite where they are, act like representatives of other centers. I leave the judgment to the conscience of the nation.

But I am sure of this: History will not look kindly on those who cannot defeat the Republican People's Party from the outside and seek to achieve results from within.

NEW PARTY ALLEGATIONS

3- The CHP is a deep-rooted party. Leaving the CHP is not an easy decision. However, it is clear that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's team will not hold an extraordinary convention. There is a risk that society will be left without options in a snap or early general election. Moreover, if the process is prolonged, there is a high probability that the social opposition will disperse and the social reaction will fade. In this context, what do you think about a new party?

Today, we are being made to pay the price for the path we set out on together by saying "change" to our party, and for hoping to change the government through fair elections for our nation.

We said there would be change first in the CHP, then in Turkey. We said we would grow hope together and win, they will never teach us defeat. We received support for this from both our delegates and our nation.

I see the love of our nation and the hope they have placed in us. Yes, I am between four walls. But I feel the emotions of our people in my heart in their strongest form. I feel the responsibility placed upon us, the hopes for the future, and the peaceful days we will experience in Turkey by holding hands as a nation with my deepest feelings.

The convention is both a requirement of the law and our right. However, if a trusteeship is being established in the CHP with directives received from the palace, we will do what is necessary. We will never leave this nation hopeless and without options. We will either find a way or make a way. We will continue our walk on the path pointed out by the nation.

DEMAND FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY CONVENTION

4- The extraordinary convention process carried out within the party to leave the CHP and establish a new party needs to be exhausted. What is the concrete threshold for you in this regard?

What does it mean to exhaust the convention process? When there is a will that is afraid of its delegates, its party members, and its nation, what concrete threshold are we going to talk about? The convention process needs to start today, immediately, right now.

Every passing day is a betrayal of our nation's hope, excitement, and expectations for the future.

My Chairman, my fellow traveler Mr. Özgür Özel, is with our nation and side by side with them everywhere in Anatolia. Our people, who carry their hearts, courage, minds, and souls for the future of Turkey in Anatolia, will point out to us together which path we will walk on.

We will walk on the path they point out.

ARE THERE RISKS TO A NEW PARTY?

5- It is also stated that a new party has some risks. What do you think about this?

Mr. Merdan, as a journalist who pays the price for the nation's right to learn the truth in this country, I think you will understand well what I am saying; if those in front of you have decided to silence every voice, to imprison every free spirit between four walls, and to violate the rights of the nation at every opportunity they find, and have even become accustomed to enjoying it to protect their power, the situation you call risk disappears.

The one living in the real risk is the nation. Those who bear the risk, the tension, and the stress are the families, fathers, and mothers whose salaries melt away before the week is out and who are dragged into a more difficult life every day. It is our people who wake up to a more unjust Turkey every day.

The big risk is also on behalf of the Republic of Turkey. We are facing political, administrative, legal, and regime threats and risks at a level we have not experienced in our history. Therefore, once the fire of change of this nation has been lit, there is no power to extinguish it, no risk to stop it.

6- Do you have a difference in approach with Özgür Özel on this issue?

We do not have a difference in approach with Mr. Özgür Özel; in fact, I think we have a very important common ground. Both of us have a habit of rejecting what is imposed on us and always following the path opened by the nation.

Both of us have dedication to our nation and country, perseverance, courage, and determination that nourish each other. They cannot find sentences to describe the strength of our brotherhood.

My heart always beats with our chairman and all our friends. I believe in them and trust them very much.

Together, we will walk the long path opened by the nation, God willing.

News Source: 12punto