Ekrem İmamoğlu's statement on Akşener: 'I think cooperation is possible'

Speaking on Halk TV in response to journalists' questions regarding the loss of the presidential election, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "We lost the election at a point where hopes were at their peak. Immediately after losing the election, we failed to convey the emotions that would demonstrate that regrouping and self-reflection were essential. We treated it like any other election and made that night ordinary. I felt compelled to address the people the next morning, and I did. Millions of people had their hearts broken."

Here are İmamoğlu's responses:

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CRITICISM ABOUT BEING A 'SHADOW CHAIRMAN'?

"I am someone who wants to work with a collective mind if there is a problem, and I walk this path with our chairman. Those who expect noise, division, etc., from us are waiting in vain."

DO YOU FIND ÖZGÜR BEY'S TENDENCY TO SHIFT TO THE LEFT CORRECT?

"I find our chairman's goal of engaging in politics without losing the essence of the CHP to be extremely correct. The CHP has 6 principles. You should not move away from them either. Our chairman talks about going down to the streets and the people; I am already among the people."

WILL THERE BE A NEW ISTANBUL ALLIANCE?

"Until the final word is spoken, I am open to everything that will be in the interest of Istanbul and Turkey. We had a productive and positive conversation with Akşener as well. Everything should be discussed until the final word is spoken. At this point, I do not have the right to say 'let's talk in Istanbul.' I only had a conversation with Ms. Akşener in a spirit of goodwill. I value this conversation and I think that cooperation is possible."

WHAT IF THERE IS NO COOPERATION IN THIS SCENARIO?

"I do not make room for negativity in my life. I still think positively. The ground for a social alliance has already been formed. We have established a tremendous cooperation with Istanbul and our citizens of all ages."

THE CHP WAS SUBJECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S 'TERROR-MONTAGE' CAMPAIGNS IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS; HOW WILL YOU PROCEED AS YOU HEAD INTO THE LOCAL ELECTIONS?

"The government, which tries to keep society away from the economy and reality, occupies the public with these things, acting like the 'emperor has no clothes.' We will also give aggressive responses to these. You will see, our nation will vote for us too. They will not be able to cope with us."

WHO WILL BE IMAMOĞLU'S OPPONENT?

"I am a politician who prefers to think about our nation. I have never taken my eyes off them. My main focus is not who my opponent is or what they will say, but the people of this city. We took this city from people who could not plan for tomorrow. We are not talking about how to win an election, but how we can prepare Istanbul for 2050."

HOW ARE THE RESULTS IN YOUR POLLS?

"Of course, it would not be appropriate to give percentages, but we see ourselves in the lead. We see that we are providing a high level of satisfaction to the public. We take this matter very seriously to increase it even further."

News Source: 12punto