Ekrem İmamoğlu meets with citizens in Arnavutköy: 'You will cast your vote, you will spoil the game'

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) has opened its fourteenth City Restaurant in the Arnavutköy district. İBB Mayor and CHP candidate for the new term, Ekrem İmamoğlu, arrived at the opening of the City Restaurant, which will serve in the Merkez neighborhood, following a tour of the district with CHP Arnavutköy Mayoral candidate Tekin Aras.

İmamoğlu and Aras addressed the citizens from the campaign bus. İmamoğlu stated, “Our country, our city, and our district all need administrators who work hard, run hard, think of their people, care for their people, and are fair, ethical, and have a clear identity.” 

Highlights from İmamoğlu's speech are as follows:

"Each of you has a story of settling in Istanbul. Istanbul is like a summary of the world. It is a summary of this country, this paradise homeland, this Republic of Turkey. Our Mayor Tekin Aras settled here with his beautiful home and family. A son of Anatolia came and settled here. His child was born here too. Now, he wants to govern this city with you, the precious people of Arnavutköy. I sincerely believe that our Mayor Tekin Aras will be elected in Arnavutköy, that you will give him very strong support, and that he will govern this district together with you. With my eyes, my ears, all my knowledge, and all my experience, I stand by this young brother of mine. I am sure that the people of Arnavutköy will experience very happy years and periods with this young brother of mine. Because he is a brother of ours who never strays from the path of respect, merit, ethics, and common sense.

"MY VOTE IS EQUAL TO YOURS"

Shall I tell you something clear and simple? A lot of ministers might come here in a day or two. Let me even tell you a surprise. Even the President might come. Do you know why I am saying this? I swear, whoever comes, you welcome them, host them, and send them off. On March 31, cast your votes for Tekin Aras. Not because someone asked you to, but vote with your conscience, with your own scale of justice, for what is in your heart. I am sure you will vote that way. No one can influence you. The vote you will cast on this March 31, which will decide to be the conscience and virtue of the nation, is so precious… Let me tell you this: Your vote is equal to mine. My vote is equal to any one of you. My vote is equal to a working-class brother of yours, to a young student brother of yours. The vote of the factory owner and the civil servant are equal. All of our votes are equal. Therefore, everyone will account for their own powerful vote. And do you know what you will do? You will cast your vote, you will spoil the game.

GOAL: TO BRING JUSTICE 

Nearly 3 million people have entered our City Restaurants, eating a 4-course meal for 40 liras, and having a pleasant time during their lunch that day. They paid for their meal. They ate in a place that belongs to them. It is a very conscientious place. And here, we especially host our students, our workers, our civil servants, and especially our retirees; I see it. It makes me very proud. Let me tell you about another situation that makes me proud. In every City Restaurant we open - including this one - only women work. God willing, with this one, our city restaurants have reached 14. We will open City Restaurants in all districts of Istanbul. If there is a need, we will aim for more. My dear fellow citizens, our goal is to bring justice to this city, to bring abundance to this city. Now, we will move on to iftar in a little while. Of course, the iftar table is inside. The capacity is not enough to take you all inside. But my friends have prepared the facilities for refreshments here. We have mobile buffets. We will try to offer you refreshments as much as possible. If there is any shortcoming due to the opening, please forgive us.

We will continue to serve you fairly, equally, with the awareness that living humanely in this city is everyone's right, in the most democratic way, in a way that befits this nation, in a way that befits our Republic, and in a way that befits our faith. Finally, let me say this: Together with Mayor Tekin Aras, if you give us the opportunity for a dual effort, you will see that Arnavutköy will evolve into a completely different era. Together, we will win you an Arnavutköy where a very happy, very peaceful, and brotherly environment exists. We promise. Happy Ramadan. May the fasts you keep be accepted. May your prayers be accepted. May our City Restaurant be beneficial to Arnavutköy.

HE HAD IFTAR WITH THE YOUTH

Following the speeches, İmamoğlu, Aras, and their accompanying delegation had their iftar with young people, the majority of whom were students. The first-day guests of the City Restaurant broke their fast with a menu consisting of lentil soup, meat doner, rice pilaf, and ayran.