İYİ Party's Mehmet Polat withdraws from Gaziantep Karkamış mayoral candidacy!

The İYİ Party's candidate for mayor of Karkamış, Gaziantep, Mehmet Polat, has announced his withdrawal from the candidacy. In his statement, Polat explained that he is withdrawing because he is being tried for smuggling. 

In his statement, Polat said, "I have withdrawn from my candidacy because, due to a case opened against me in the past for smuggling, I would not be able to serve as mayor even if I were elected. Those who know me know that I do not bow to threats and I do not chase after personal gain."

İYİ Party Gaziantep MP Mehmet Mustafa Gürban commented on the matter via his X account.

Gürban used the following expressions:

"Polat has made a scripted statement... I was told that he was instructed to take a jab at me in his statement :) He received his orders that way.

1- Didn't you know about the case opened against you in the past for smuggling?

While you were becoming a candidate, while you were campaigning for months, while you were coming to us to apply, while you were spending money, and while you were opening an NGO office with a crowd two days ago.

2- I SPOKE WITH THE YSK (SUPREME ELECTION COUNCIL). THERE IS NO APPLICATION REGARDING POLAT, NO PAST CRIMINAL RECORD FILED. THEY SAY IF HE IS ELECTED TODAY, WE WILL GIVE HIM HIS CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION"

Polat ısmarlama bir açıklama yapmış..Bana da laf vurması söylenmiş açıklamasında :)Talimatı öyle almış.

1-Geçmişte Kaçakçılık nedeniyle açılan davanı bilmiyormuydun ?

Aday olurken,aylarca seçim çalışması yaparken,bize gelip başvuru yaparken,para harcarken ve iki gün önce…

— Mehmet Mustafa Gürban (@2727mmg2727) March 5, 2024

Gürban later stated on his X account that they had spoken with the Supreme Election Council regarding the incident.

Gürban used the following sentences in his post:

"We spoke with the Supreme Election Council.

They said, if your Karkamış candidate Polat enters the elections and wins, we will give him his certificate of election. They said there is no application received regarding the candidate or any objection from us against the candidate.

They said, enter the election, win, and get your certificate of election"

Yüksek Seçim Kurulu ile görüştük.

Karkamış Adayınız Polat seçimlere girerse,kazanırsa mazbatasını veririz.Bize aday ile ilgili gelen bir başvuru ya da bizim adaya bir itirazımız yok dediler.
Seçime girin kazanın mazbatanızı alın dediler.

— Mehmet Mustafa Gürban (@2727mmg2727) March 5, 2024

News Source: 12punto