Mansur Yavaş speaks on presidential candidacy: 'If my party nominates me...'

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş gave a speech as part of the 27th International Beypazarı Festival held in Beypazarı this year. 

Yavaş stated that his successful work in Beypazarı was an important part of the process that led him to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayoralty, and said that they are working to make Ankara competitive with world capitals.

In his speech at the festival, Yavaş said the following:

"In 2019, we took office as the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor with the favor of our people. Within 5 years, Turkey saw how municipal governance should be done through 'Mansur Yavaş municipalism.' The number of municipalities we manage with this approach has risen to 16 today. We received more votes than our rivals in 4 districts as well. The number could have risen to 20, 21, or even 22. All of Ankara could have experienced Mansur Yavaş municipalism."

Continuing his speech, Yavaş emphasized that every district of Ankara possesses its own unique values and that they aim for development by highlighting these values. Yavaş said, "We will work to make Ankara, which was entrusted to us by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, competitive with world capitals."

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY DISCUSSIONS

In the later parts of his speech, Mansur Yavaş also touched upon topics such as his presidential candidacy and economic hardships. Stating that there is no clear agenda regarding candidacy, Yavaş used the following expressions:

"There is no such agenda in the country right now. But if my party nominates me, as I have always said, of course, we would be candidates for the presidency and we would win. However, our current agenda is to work together with all mayors and solve the problems of our people."

Pointing out that the public is going through difficult times due to economic hardships, Yavaş stated that municipalities are trying to take an active role, particularly regarding cleanliness in schools and support provided to retirees, and noted the following:

"Schools are filthy; cleaning cannot be done. They ask us for help, but the authorities do not want to accept this help either. The situation of retirees is obvious. We provide regular support to 42 thousand retirees in Ankara. Municipalities must be by the side of every individual in a difficult situation, and we did this very successfully during the pandemic period."

WHAT HAPPENED?

In a press conference he held on Thursday, Mansur Yavaş had also used the expressions "If our party nominates us, we will be candidates. The party's rules for determining candidates are clear" regarding his presidential candidacy.

News Source: 12punto