Erdoğan announces AKP's İzmir district candidates! MHP to be supported in 5 districts!

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially announced his party's district mayoral candidates at a candidate introduction meeting held in İzmir.

During the program, Erdoğan announced the mayoral candidates for 30 districts, 25 of which are from the AKP and 5 from the People's Alliance partner MHP.

• Aliağa – Serkan Acar (MHP candidate)
• Balçova – Erol Eroğlu
• Bayındır – Uğur Demirezen
• Bayraklı – Bilal Kırkpınar
• Bergama – Sadık Doğruer
• Beydağ – Hüseyin Ay
• Bornova – Cevdet Çayır
• Buca – Adnan Öztekin
• Çeşme – Esat Tanık (MHP candidate)
• Çiğli – Murat Gökçekaya
• Dikili – Sema Akıncı (MHP candidate)
• Foça – Taner Acar (MHP candidate)
• Gaziemir – Deniz Doğan
• Güzelbahçe – Gümüş Saime Bucaklıoğlu
• Karabağlar – Mehmet Sadık Tunç
• Karaburun – Eyüp Kaykaç
• Karşıyaka – İsmail Çiftçioğlu
• Kemalpaşa – Galip Atar
• Kınık – Sami Mollaahmet
• Kiraz – Saliha Özçınar Kutlu
• Konak – Ceyda Bölünmez Çankırı
• Menderes – Sinan Akdeniz
• Menemen – Aydın Pehlivan
• Narlıdere – Murat Sarman
• Ödemiş – Ali Hadim
• Seferihisar – Ahmet Aydın
• Selçuk – Zeynel Bakıcı
• Tire – Arif Demirkıran (MHP candidate)
• Torbalı – Özgür Erman Çağlar
• Urla – Tarkan Bakırlı

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's speech before announcing the candidates:

''At the beginning of my remarks, I would like to convey my get-well-soon wishes to all the people of İzmir due to the 5.1 magnitude earthquake we experienced this morning, centered off the coast of Menderes. Following our People's Alliance İzmir Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate, our brother Hamza Dağ, we are here today to announce the names we will nominate in our districts. Our goal is to finish the candidate determination process as soon as possible and use all our energy to sweep the ballot boxes on March 31. On March 31, our nation will choose mayors who will govern their cities with a policy of works and services. The era of wasting our cities' years by acting as mayor with only shows and perceptions is over in Turkey.''

''LET US NOT DEPRIVE ANY OF OUR CITIES OF THE CENTURY OF TURKEY MUNICIPALITY VISION''

Let us not deprive any of our cities, especially İzmir, of the Century of Turkey municipality vision. On March 31, our nation will choose mayors who will govern their cities with a policy of works and services, not with a politics of exploiting common values. Our candidates are not, and will not be, like those who sit in the mayoral seat but have their eyes, hearts, and minds elsewhere. The separatist terror scourge that has plagued our country for 40 years is part of an attempt to occupy these lands once again. Imperialist powers have always found pawns and extras to support their insidious games from within. Those who took part in these scenarios, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have received the grades they deserved before history. The first period of our government was spent struggling against the tutelage powers that did not want to let go of the country's collar.''

''WE WILL ACCELERATE OUR CENTURY OF TURKEY MARCH''

We are preparing for our 18th election, our 18th test. Hopefully, we will complete this election successfully and accelerate our Century of Turkey march. The regional and global responsibilities of Turkey, which has consolidated its political and economic independence, are increasing.''

CALL TO ISRAEL REGARDING GAZA

The decision taken by the International Court of Justice yesterday is almost an echo of our cry that 'the world is bigger than 5.' We once again call on Israel to heed the voice of the international community and institutions and to stop its attacks and massacres immediately. Despite all these facts, there are still those who do not understand that Turkey is not a power consisting only of its own lands and citizens.''

''NEITHER İZMİR NOR BEING FROM İZMİR IS UNDER ANYONE'S MONOPOLY''

Neither İzmir nor being from İzmir is under anyone's monopoly. Everyone who serves this city with love and determination is from İzmir. The state of İzmir's districts, neighborhoods, and streets is obvious. Those who make the bay smell have nothing to offer this city. I sincerely believe that in these elections, İzmir will hold those who have neglected it for years accountable at the ballot box and will make its choice in favor of real municipalism. Those who think they can hide all their disgrace under the silhouette of Atatürk will receive the lesson they deserve on March 31.''

News Source: 12punto