Kasım Gülpınar makes bombshell confessions on live broadcast: 'I also received an offer from the CHP'

Kasım Gülpınar, who resigned from his position as an advisor to AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and from the AKP, where he was a member of the Central Decision and Administrative Board (MKYK), before the local elections, and won the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality mayoral race as a candidate for the New Welfare Party, has resigned from his party.

Gülpınar, who was rumored to be returning to the AKP—the party for which he served as a deputy for Şanlıurfa for four terms between 2011 and 2023—had stated in his resignation announcement, "I have decided to continue as an independent."

Gülpınar was most recently a guest on a live broadcast on Habertürk.

In his remarks, Gülpınar said, "The public is satisfied with me remaining independent; I am not moving anywhere," and added, "I asked the public, and I will remain independent. I want to bring a new understanding to the politics I wish to pursue. Let us be transparent, let us be clear. I ask the public. The public is currently satisfied with my position. I hope to continue in this position."

Highlights from Gülpınar's statements are as follows:

"I had to leave the AK Party because what should have happened did not happen, because rules, laws, order, and those who were supposed to do their jobs did not do them. Despite this burden, even though you have clear data in front of you. I have always said that the President's leadership is always separate.

Whatever the people say, that is what happens. Now, position and status are not important to me. I left behind the most beautiful positions and took a risk. No one can say that you will win 100 percent in democracy. I took all these risks; my current situation and position were much better offices. The Urfa Mayoralty is honorable and dignified, of course.

Some mayoralties are transferred to another municipality, and they thank them, with zero debt. I wish I could have said that. The government sends money; you could have used that money efficiently. Now, we have experienced a world of trouble dealing with debts and receivables. Even while coming here, I received phone calls. We said that politics cannot be done against the will of the people."

'I ALSO RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM THE CHP'

Almost all parties made offers. We chose to use our preference for the Welfare Party. I also received an offer from the CHP. I received an offer from the CHP during my time as a deputy. We never turned these into material to detail them or to play hard to get.

In this process, we exercised our preference. The person who first mediated this was our friend locally. They contacted the headquarters, and then the headquarters contacted us. I chose to use my preference here. This is where my father started his political career, the place we feel close to in politics. Saadet (Felicity Party) also spoke. We have some friends there as well.

There was a statement from Saadet saying, 'Come be our candidate.' It could have been from other places as well. I refrain from using words that would lead to arrogance. I have encountered so many things that I am truly confused about which ones to answer and which ones not to. One person said, 'His father was like that too, he was a candidate from the MSP at the time, then he moved to the Motherland Party (ANAP).' The MSP was a party abolished in 1980. ANAP was a party founded in 1980.

'IF YOU ARE HERE, YOU ARE GOOD; WHEN YOU STEP OUTSIDE THE DOOR, THERE IS NO ONE WORSE THAN YOU'

 Özal was an MSP candidate from İzmir in 1977. My father was also an MSP candidate for Şanlıurfa. Neither of them was elected. Fate united them under the roof of the Motherland Party. Both are National View (Milli Görüş) supporters. Now a matter of 'miracle' has emerged. They are constantly criticizing me. I thought the Welfare Party would follow a different policy. Now, if you are here, you are very good; when you step outside the door, there is no one worse than you, no matter how much service you provide. This politics needs to get rid of its narrow framework. First, people should weigh themselves and try to see their own mistakes. They started attacking me from out of nowhere.

Well, did you question your own mistake? Did you say where we went wrong? They kept saying, 'Kasım Gülpınar should not think the miracle is in himself.' In Sufism, some know they possess a miracle, some do not. Those who know also refrain from showing it. Well, why was this miracle displayed in Urfa? Did the Welfare's miracle emerge there? We wanted to continue.

'I WAS QUITTING THE CANDIDACY THAT DAY'

They say, 'He should not think the miracle is in himself,' God forbid! What miracle? You only won in Urfa as a metropolitan municipality. If you showed a miracle, why did you only show it in Urfa? From the very first day, no one is aware. I left the hall on the day of the candidate introduction. Actually, I was quitting the candidacy that day. The candidate had been determined before us. We say, 'Some of these candidates will not work, we need to change some of them, there are friends I will bring, you expect success from me, I have to bring the best candidates there.'

I came to the meeting in the morning, and I saw that our friend had arrived and said, 'I will go on stage.' This time, we are pulling our fellow citizen aside and trying to convince him. I am dealing with this at the candidate introduction meeting. I said, 'This won't work,' and got in the car. I was quitting that day. They made me turn back. Is it my duty for a candidate in a party to convince another candidate?

'I NEVER CALLED THE CHAIRMAN'

The same problems were experienced during the election period. There were shortcomings in some of our meetings, but no one was in an effort to identify a problem or solve a problem. I never called the chairman. Those who are supposed to do their duty must do what is necessary.

We came to the determination of the council members, the candidates were not exactly as we wanted. This time, some people started fighting with me, saying, 'Let it be our man.' A new political understanding, a new movement in Urfa. A short time remained. Unfortunately, I said we have to act with a Machiavellian understanding that I do not like at all and that should not be done.

News Source: 12punto