Ahmet Hakan's striking commentary on Ekrem İmamoğlu: 'He wants to differentiate himself from Özel, Yavaş, and Kılıçdaroğlu...'

Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan, known for his proximity to the government, made striking comments about Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in his column titled "Why does İmamoğlu want controversy?"

Addressing the controversies İmamoğlu has been involved in recently, Hakan stated that three things caught his attention and listed them as follows:

“ONE: He is incredibly eager to dive into arguments, whether an opportunity arises or not.

TWO: He is overly prone to scolding in the Municipal Council, using phrases like “sit down,” “you are insolent,” “you are rude,” and so on.

THREE: He seems to have sworn not to construct a sentence that does not contain a challenge or bravado.”

Stating that İmamoğlu's tactic and strategy regarding these moves is to 'try to project an image of a head-to-head, tooth-and-nail struggle with the government,' Hakan continued with the following comment: "With this tactic and strategy, he seems to want to differentiate himself from Özgür Özel, Mansur Yavaş, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu."

Ahmet Hakan’s column titled ‘Why does İmamoğlu want controversy?’ is as follows:

"When I look at Ekrem İmamoğlu’s recent period, I see these three things:

- ONE: He is incredibly eager to dive into arguments, whether an opportunity arises or not.

- TWO: He is overly prone to scolding in the Municipal Council, using phrases like “sit down,” “you are insolent,” “you are rude,” and so on.

- THREE: He seems to have sworn not to construct a sentence that does not contain a challenge or bravado.

His tactic and strategy, I suppose, is this:

To try to project an image of a head-to-head, tooth-and-nail struggle with the government.

With this tactic and strategy...

He seems to want to differentiate himself from Özgür Özel, Mansur Yavaş, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Ekrem İmamoğlu might be successful with this tactic and strategy.

But he must keep it in moderation.

But he must not overdo it.

But he must not spoil the naturalness of it.

But he must not give the impression that he is imitating someone.

But he must be sincere.

That is a MUST of all MUSTS."