Berhan Şimşek claims he spoke with Ekrem İmamoğlu about 'presidential candidacy': I told him Kemal Bey's hand would be strengthened
Berhan Şimşek, one of the six individuals expelled from the CHP, made striking statements while appearing as a guest on a program. Among his remarks, his claim regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu drew particular attention.
12punto
While the lawsuit regarding the CHP convention has not yet been concluded, the process in which the court canceled the Istanbul Congress, appointed Gürsel Tekin as Provincial Chair, and the party held a new congress to re-elect the dismissed Özgür Çelik remains a hot topic on the political agenda. Amidst this, Berhan Şimşek, who was expelled from the party, has made significant statements.
Responding to questions from Gürkan Hacır on Taksim Meydanı, Şimşek made a striking claim regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been detained for a long time at the Marmara Prison in Silivri.
"I TOLD HIM 'YOU MUST SAY I AM NOT A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE'"
Berhan Şimşek stated the following:
"I went to Ekrem İmamoğlu before the 2023 elections.
'If my party assigns me and the people of Istanbul elect me, I want to serve 16 million people for another 5 years; you must say I am not a presidential candidate,' I said.
'If you say this, Meral Hanım's mouth will be shut, Mansur Yavaş will have nothing left to say, and Kemal Bey's hand will be strengthened at the Table of Six,' I said.
Since that day, he has neither called nor asked for me."
Berhan Şimşek's claim of 'I spoke with Ekrem İmamoğlu about presidential candidacy':
— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) September 27, 2025
I told him Kemal Bey's hand would be strengthenedhttps://t.co/kVZq9SNRZi pic.twitter.com/5IQYFCIow3