CHP Spokesperson Yücel: We will not allow İmamoğlu to be sidelined from candidacy

Yücel, speaking at a press conference held after the Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting chaired by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel at the party headquarters, argued that insecurity and anxiety are being fueled in every field by the government.

Criticizing the statements made by AK Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş regarding the economy, Yücel said, "Mr. Elitaş has stood up and said, 'If a higher raise is given to low-income earners, there will be economic imbalances in the long run.' What kind of mental block are you experiencing? What kind of blindness are you in? You are not even aware of how alienated you have become from the problems of this people and this country due to your ambition to remain in power. You are so far removed from economic science that you would link the cause of economic imbalance in the country to a 10 thousand lira additional raise you would give to minimum wage earners and retirees."

Touching upon the investigation into Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Board Chairman Orhan Turan and High Advisory Council (YİK) President Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras, Yücel said the following:

"Imposing a travel ban on business people who export means saying, 'We do not care about the country's economy.' These moves by the AKP government damage our legal order as much as they harm the country's economy. If the Minister of Justice of this country is targeting TÜSİAD immediately after the statements of these two business people, if the AKP Spokesperson is wagging a finger at TÜSİAD, and if the President stands up and says, 'TÜSİAD has overstepped its bounds, you will know your place in the new Turkey,' then you cannot talk about judicial independence there."

Reminding that an indictment was prepared 115 days later against Ahmet Özer, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Esenyurt, Yücel said, "This indictment is a document that is a source of shame in the name of law in the eyes of judicial members who believe in the rule of law. We believe that the toughest fight against the lawlessness experienced in our country, especially in recent times, will be waged by judicial members who believe in the rule of law."

"POLITICAL COMPETITION MUST BE CONDUCTED FAIRLY"

Deniz Yücel, referring to the various investigations previously launched against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the most recent investigation launched for the crime of "forgery of official documents" based on the allegation that his university diploma is fake, stated the following:

"They have now lost their senses to the point of claiming his diploma is fake in order to sideline Mr. İmamoğlu from the presidential race. Neither the CHP nor millions of people will allow Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu to be sidelined from the presidential candidacy process through these political operations. Keeping a mayor who puts forward a claim regarding Turkey's future and who has defeated Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP in 3 elections in Istanbul under constant judicial pressure deeply shakes trust and belief in democracy. Political competition must be conducted fairly on a ground that is just and in accordance with the law."