Mansur Yavaş: My priority is not intersections, but the low-income

In his statement on the SÖZCÜ Television Special Interview program, Yavaş said, "I am expecting a high rate. If you have noticed, nobody is talking about Ankara on television anyway.

A degree above what was received in previous Ankara elections is a record for me," he said.

Stating that he expects a record vote in the March 31 local elections, he said the following:

"The pandemic period was a very big test for us. People were in a really difficult situation during the pandemic. We left every job aside, we reached out to everyone in every occupational group who was in a difficult situation. We displayed a great example of solidarity in Ankara.

Not a single tweet or statement came out of my mouth regarding those who did not vote for me or regarding members of other parties. Even when some political party leaders tweeted about me from time to time, we worked by embracing everyone, without entering into politics, by giving answers in a proper language without becoming enemies, as is appropriate.

Those who did not vote in the last election are now looking to vote. I even said something like this at the rallies. I was saying, 'I will make those who do not vote for me regret it.' I would continue by saying, 'I will make them say, I wish I had voted too.' I hope we will see that this is the case in the election.

"IT IS A RECORD FOR ME"

I am expecting a high rate. If you have noticed, nobody is talking about Ankara on television anyway. A degree above what was received in previous Ankara elections is a record for me. I want to state whatever it goes above 51 percent, as our votes have increased.

My goal is this. It is being talked about in Ankara, but it is also being talked about in Turkey. To establish the concept of Mansur Yavaş municipalism."

"I WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE AGAIN"

I want to leave behind a good name. And I want to leave at the peak. There is no longer an exception to clearly stating that I will not be a candidate again.

"THE SAYING 'HE STEALS BUT HE WORKS' WAS BOTHERING ME"

I became a candidate in 2014, I declared it. I became a candidate in 2019, I declared it. I became a candidate again in 2024, I declared it again. It is my style. I say it so assertively that they can examine all credit cards and bank accounts since 1999. Moreover, when you become a candidate for a place like Ankara, everything about you has definitely been examined. I am clear. I think that public administrators, not just mayors, should be sensitive about this issue now. I think they should demand this from all public administrators and evaluate it.

When I was the mayor of Beypazarı, whenever I took a taxi in Ankara, no matter where you go, they ask, 'How is the mayor, are you satisfied?' I was asking too. I was hearing this saying, and I was very sad. I am not saying it to blame him, but the saying 'Brother, he steals but he works' was bothering me extremely. I was ashamed to go somewhere and say 'I am the mayor'.

"WHY IS IT NOT ON THE LIST?"

I asked because so much real estate appeared and there was no bank account behind it, and no jewelry was declared. It is probable that a person with so much real estate has jewelry at home. The figures for this also need to be stated anyway. I think there is no car, or it is under the company, I do not know. This was discussed. After the statement was made, these were talked about. Afterwards, the subject of 600 apartments came up. He was asked by a television station. He said, 'That is also from my father'.

You declared, you prepared a list, but for example, Antalya is not on your list, is it there or not, okay, there are not 600 apartments, there are 300, there are 200. Whatever there is. Why is this not on the list? It should be. Because the declared assets already caused enough noise. Whether it was more or a little less would not have changed much. I wish he had declared everything. I am curious, they are still calling us and saying there is this here, there is that there. I do not know if it is true or not, and it does not concern me. What concerns me is that the politician should be transparent.

"I DID NOT EVEN TAKE MY SALARY"

They say: 'They served less because they were thinking about the presidency'. I never had a statement on this matter. If they asked where I went, I only said, 'Yes, if the Table of Six makes such a decision, I will be'. The Table of Six would decide this, there was no such thing as me deciding.

Moreover, I was on leave for 12.5 days during the rallies we attended with the title of vice presidency in the elections. Moreover, I did not even take my salary that month. I used 12.5 days of leave. Because you go at noon and return in the evening. I did municipal work until noon. I never neglected these places either. There is no competition or anything between us. My priority is Ankara. I will do all kinds of work for Ankara until the last minute while I am in office. My only goal is to leave behind a good name.

"I DID NOT LEAVE THE RETIREE HUNGRY"

Retirees entered the social assistance criteria with this salary. I did not leave 34 thousand retirees hungry. I will continue to support them as much as I can. Look, let's say an intersection is needed here. This intersection does not exist right now. There is something that does not exist, I say I will build it. If this poverty continues like this, I will build that intersection in 2 years, but I will not leave these people hungry and homeless. This is municipalism. The priority is to be with the person in need, whether there is an intersection or not does not change much, but you cannot leave people hungry, unable to give meat and milk to their children, unable to meet their children's demands on the other side just because you say you will build an intersection. This is the priority."

"THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING"

The investigations at the prosecutor's office regarding the complaint we made about Ankapark are ongoing. You know, now all companies belong to the state. What was bought? Let's say this glass was bought. The price of this glass is already still there. It is there as a figure. How much it costs. We also requested the figures for these from China. We gave the companies that brought these to the prosecutor's office. The investigations are still ongoing. Separate companies were established. That one sold it to that one, and after changing hands two or three times, it came to Ankara and these individuals took over the operation of Ankapark. The investigation is ongoing.

"THE COMPANY WENT BANKRUPT"

I gave a note to the President twice at the airport on this matter. I gave it to Mr. Kurum twice. I said, 'Look, this place is rotting, they are afraid to make a decision in our favor in the courts. If you get involved, let's take this place, let's make a decision together'. These are written and documented. Mr. Kurum, when you go there as a minister, you send the note in advance about which issues you will discuss, they also state the situation to the relevant general directorate, we get their opinions and have the meeting all together. No result came out. In the end, the company went bankrupt. We took Ankapark from the bankruptcy administration."

News Source: 12punto