Murat Kurum reveals the motivation he sees on the ground in a live broadcast: 'We are winning by a wide margin'

Kurum answered questions about the agenda from Esra Toptaş and Fevzi Çakır on the "Seçime Doğru Özel" (Special: Towards the Election) program broadcast live on Habertürk.

When asked what his strategy plan is in the final days before the election, Kurum reminded that he has been explaining his projects and goals for about 90 days, that the polls will open in 4 days, and that there are 3 days left to work. He expressed that they think and hope that citizens will take a stance in favor of works, services, and reliable people at the ballot box, and that they feel this way on the ground as well.

Upon the question "Are you winning?", Murat Kurum stated that the field is the best image of the polls and the language of the election, saying, "The motivation I see on the ground is that we will win by a wide margin. God willing, on the evening of March 31, we are coming with qualified staff to solve Istanbul's problems together with all our brothers and sisters who have placed their hearts in us."

When told that there are many polls both against and in his favor, Kurum made the following assessments:

"There are also manipulated polls. I don't find this right either. All polling companies were saying different things on May 14-28. In fact, the current CHP administration came out and made manipulations like 'We won, we are ahead,' and they will do it again. From here, I want to warn our nation and our poll workers on this point. We will not leave that place until the last moment, and we should not. Because they will do the same manipulation again. Because they have nothing to offer our nation other than perception politics. Constant perception, constant excuses."

IMM mayoral candidate Kurum pointed out that they also conduct polls, saying, "According to our measurements, we will win with a 1.7-point lead."

When asked if he has a special strategy for disgruntled, offended, or protest-minded voters in the final days of the election campaign and how dense this group is, Kurum said that there are not many undecided voters, that there is an undecided voter base of about 4-5 points, and that ultimately they will win the election on the evening of March 31 and take office to serve Istanbul.

"WE WILL HAVE DISTRICT RALLIES ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY"

When asked if President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would come to Istanbul in the last 3-4 days before the election and hold district-based visits, Kurum explained that in every election, President Erdoğan holds rallies in the districts and meets with citizens for motivation regarding the ballot box.

Kurum provided the information, "We will have such district rallies on Friday and Saturday. Our friends and organizations are preparing. God willing, we will have rallies in 6-7 districts on the Anatolian and European sides."

"WE SEE THAT HE DOES NOT SHOW THE SAME CARE FOR ISTANBUL AS HE DOES FOR HIDING HIS ASSETS"

When asked if he found the explanation "The villas are not my personal assets, they are under our company" sufficient following the revelation of a finding regarding 3 villas after IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu's asset declaration, Kurum noted the following:

"We see that Ekrem Bey does not show the same care for Istanbul as he does for hiding his assets. Before declaring his assets, there is a different statement, and 3 days later, you see villas overlooking the Bosphorus worth 1.5 billion liras appear. Why would a person hide their assets?

If you say, 'We will be transparent, we will be on the side of rights, law, and justice,' and give these promises to our citizens in the squares, and then you cannot be transparent on this issue, you need to look in the mirror.

'I have been deceiving Istanbulites for 5 years, and I will continue to deceive them.' There is no such thing. You deceived Istanbulites, you lied, but now our nation will hold you accountable for this at the ballot box on March 31."

"HIS TEAM IS BUILDING TOWERS OF MONEY, THE OTHER IS HIDING HIS ASSETS"

IMM mayoral candidate Murat Kurum made the following assessment regarding whether the asset debate and the money-counting footage would have a direct impact on voters:

"A mayor who deceives Istanbulites even in his asset declaration, a mayor who puts in such great effort to hide his interest in his asset declaration, did not show the same effort in Istanbul's 5 years. Do you think it won't affect them? You don't remember your promises; in the 5-year process, it was constant perception, constant excuses, constant gossip, constant talking back to this and that, saying 'Come all of you.' No one is coming to you in a group. Don't try to inflate yourself. Your mask has fallen. The politics you practice is now clearly visible to everyone."

Regarding the money-counting footage, Kurum said, "We are talking about a party that cannot even manage to buy its own provincial building. They haven't been able to make a clear statement to the public for days. You are just going to buy one provincial building. After all, does the party receive state aid? Yes, it does.

You take it, you invoice it, you show its value, you buy it at its real value, you transfer the title deed to the party, whether you are going to make it a provincial building or a district building, you do it.

You look, names close to the CHP mayor are there in the party building, one comes from there, one goes from there, they count money for hours, they build towers of bundles. Their effort, their team is building these towers of money, the other is hiding his assets," he said.

MADE A STATEMENT REGARDING YRP VOTERS

When asked for his assessments specifically regarding the New Welfare Party (YRP) voters in Istanbul, Kurum said that when New Welfare Party voters think and evaluate from a broad perspective, they are the voters who know best who their vote will benefit and what the CHP's understanding of municipalism is.

Murat Kurum stated that New Welfare Party voters will clearly express their will in favor of the country's future and in favor of Murat Kurum.

When asked for his evaluation regarding analyses suggesting that "a softening might occur between the AK Party and the New Welfare Party in the final stretch," Kurum replied, "There is no tension on our part."

When asked, "Is there any contact with the New Welfare Party that could change the current situation? Would you consider meeting?", Kurum answered, "There is no contact. We always talk to everyone, why wouldn't we? It is not just the leaders and administrators who decide on this. Our nation also has a discretionary power. At the end of the day, we have a nation that is prudent and insightful enough to think about who their vote will benefit. It has shown this in every election. Look back, our nation's insight has always prevailed, and it will prevail again."

"I GIVE MY WORD ON THIS"

Evaluating the "Great Istanbul Earthquake Survey," Kurum drew attention to the earthquake risk and said, "You know this and yet you do not present a solution for it; this is what the current IMM administration is doing, it is being ignored. When such a dire situation is in question, at least you show the effort you can, this is what is expected of you."

Kurum mentioned the "Fast and Solid Steps for Istanbul, First 6 Months and 1-Year Emergency Action Plan Launch" they will organize tomorrow, and said that as a result of these efforts, they will remove many problems from the agenda of Istanbulites.

When reminded of the data that ambulances and fire trucks cannot currently enter 9,000 streets in Istanbul, Kurum asked the question, "We know this, but we are not taking any measures regarding it. How will an administration that does not take measures regarding this be worthy of the nation's will and favor again at the ballot box?"

Kurum emphasized that they will establish a very good relationship with Istanbulites with their interest, concern, experience, and background, and concluded his words as follows:

"On March 31, I will be both the mayor, the brother, and the son of Istanbul; I give my word on this. They will see me on the street; they will not see me sitting in my office in Saraçhane chasing different agendas. We will focus on Istanbul's projects and Istanbul's problems. We will eliminate the earthquake risk and the transportation ordeal. We dream of an Istanbul where our people will be happy, and we will realize this dream together with all Istanbulites on March 31."

News Source: AA