İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu makes statements: 'We will stand with the nation; we will stand against the government'

İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu was a guest of journalist Mehmet Akif Ersoy on HaberTürk. While making statements regarding the party congress process and its aftermath, Dervişoğlu stated that they would continue to do what they have done so far; they would stand with the state and the nation, and against the government.

Stating that he would meet with Koray Aydın and Tolga Akalın, with whom he competed in the congress, Dervişoğlu expressed that he did not expect any problems to arise.

Touching upon the substitute lists, Dervişoğlu used the following sentences:

"When congresses are held, substitute lists are prepared, and everyone thinks that those lists are not given much attention. In fact, when lists are prepared in contested congresses, substitutes are also quite important. Candidates care about them. I did the same in the last congress. The substitutes who replaced the resigning delegates also showed their party loyalty in the last congress"

WHO WAS THE FIRST TO CALL?

Mentioning the people who called him after he was elected, Dervişoğlu stated that the first person to call was Meral Akşener, with the following words:

"Erdoğan, Özgür Özel, and Ahmet Davutoğlu called. Other party leaders also congratulated both our congress and my chairmanship through their own social media accounts. I spoke with Akşener; she was the first to call. She congratulated me, and I conveyed my thanks. The honorable former chairwoman voted in the first round, but did not vote in the second and third rounds.

Meral Akşener is everything to the İYİ Party. Therefore, being the candidate desired by the founding leader of the İYİ Party gave me honor and pride. I am not a candidate who was less desired by the other party leader candidates either"

WHEN WILL HE GO TO THE HEADQUARTERS?

Dervişoğlu continued his sentences as follows:

"The path I have followed from the very beginning was to ensure that the unity of the candidates was not damaged. I believe I managed the process very correctly. From now on, some emotional moments may be experienced, but these processes will also be overcome with reason and wisdom. I will meet with both Mr. Koray and Mr. Tolga. I have not yet taken over the office. I will receive my certificate of election in the group chairmanship meeting hall. On Wednesday, May 1, I will go to the Headquarters to take over the duty from my honorable former chairwoman. There are many friends I will talk to during this process. I do not yet know how the process will work.

I met with Mr. Koray at the congress hall, and I met with Mr. Tolga after the congress. I received their opinions. I will also hold a meeting with Mr. Koray Aydın. I do not believe any problems will arise"

Dervişoğlu conveyed the importance of the İYİ Party and the resignation process of Ümit Özlale with these words:

"Turkey needs the İYİ Party. I still see the İYİ Party as a party that will sprout hope for Turkey. I will do everything that needs to be done by bringing my quality of being a unifying force to the forefront. Let no one have any worries.

Mr. Ümit announced that he resigned from our party, but there was no official application or notification. I insisted a lot on Mr. Ümit. I stated that he should remain in this party before the congress and that I would not let him go if I won. Mr. Özlale has indispensable qualities for our party."

Making a statement regarding the lists, Dervişoğlu said that some deputies were not included in the lists because they would take office in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

“I THANK ERHAN USTA FOR HIS GRACE”

Regarding Erhan Usta's resignation, he used the following sentences:

"Erhan Usta called me yesterday. He conveyed to me that he had declared his support for another candidate and that he was thinking of resigning to ease Dervişoğlu's hand. I stated that I did not have such a need as a result of the congress process. I said, let's have a meeting first, let's take a photo, let's not allow any misunderstanding. However, he reported that he had resigned from his post without waiting. I will never blame him for this action. I thank him for his grace."

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Touching upon the Constitutional amendment on the Parliament's agenda, Dervişoğlu expressed that he would participate in the negotiations with the following sentences:

"We have constitutional amendment discussions ahead of us. The negotiations have begun; I believe some meetings point to that. The İYİ Party Parliamentary Group has a great responsibility ahead of it. I will also participate in these negotiations as chairman when necessary. I will be in the field constantly, that is, I will be in the bosom of the nation where I need to be. Journalist friends should not expect off-the-cuff answers from me on subjects I do not have knowledge about. In the office of the İYİ Party chairmanship, I am the representative of those who vote for and support the İYİ Party. I will do my best not to embarrass them.

“THE CENTER OF TURKEY IS MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK”

The position of the İYİ Party is constantly being discussed. The İYİ Party was founded at the center of Turkish politics. I am of the opinion that discussions of the type 'this party is like this, this party will shift to that axis' by looking at the political past of individuals in the İYİ Party are not very appropriate. The center of Turkey is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The founding units of the party are clear; the İYİ Party is at the center of politics. Our party is a nationalist, democratic, and developmentalist party. It has a philosophy and program that is very suitable for this definition of center and will eliminate all concerns."

"WE ARE A POLITICAL MOVEMENT"

Explaining the establishment process of the İYİ Party, Dervişoğlu explained that they are not just a party but a political movement with these expressions:

"One came from a social democratic place, another had engaged in politics from the center-right, etc. We did not carry the identities from where we came to the İYİ Party. I said something at the founders' board meeting held during the establishment of the party. I, Müsavat Dervişoğlu, started politics on October 27, 2017, and I said I would continue my journey in the İYİ Party. Our friends who contributed made sacrifices so that the party's image of standing in the center would not be spoiled. The efforts made by these friends should not be forgotten. I will explain where the party stands at the first group meeting I hold. You do not become the center just by saying you are the center.

We are a political movement, we are not an ordinary party. Of course, I will benefit from everyone's views, I will take their ideas.

Speaking with the İYİ Party as the center, we will reiterate our calls for participation in the party to strengthen the center"

TOUCHED UPON RESIGNATIONS

Stating that the resignations were planned and carried out to harm the İYİ Party, Dervişoğlu said, "The resignations and statements made at breaking points were carried out with planned timing to harm the İYİ Party. We are proud that we founded this party, but the nation founded this party. I will not close the distance with those who act deliberately, intentionally, and premeditatedly to damage the hope of the nation. As in every subject, there is something called remorse in politics. If mistakes are accepted and it is expressed that there is regret for this, I will close the distance I opened. I say this within the scope of my political experience and the advice I have received; in politics, you can neither fully open the door nor fully close it. In a part of politics, diplomacy will always be open" he expressed.

News Source: 12punto