Ekrem İmamoğlu responds to 'IMM investigation': 'I am watching their pathetic state with a laugh'

Following the investigation launched into the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, an investigation has also been initiated for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an ex officio investigation into allegations of irregular spending and public loss during certain events held within the IMM.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu made statements regarding the matter at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Istanbul Career Fair.

İmamoğlu said, "The concert fees they have been talking about for days do not even amount to the cost of one plane and the planes following it. There is a character assassination attempt against me and Mr. Mansur. We are watching the character assassinations directed at Mayor Mansur and us with a laugh."

İmamoğlu's statements are as follows:

"I am watching their pathetic state with a laugh. I am well-practiced in weathering these character assassinations.

I don't like to use the phrase 'it rolls off my back,' but it fits them perfectly."

Stating, "We are honored to be inspected while you attempt character assassination; go ahead and audit us," İmamoğlu expressed the following:

"I say to the mind that audits us: take CHP's Ekrem İmamoğlu or Mansur Yavaş; how much have you audited Istanbul, and how much have you audited the municipalities belonging to your own party in Turkey over the last 10 years? In fact, include the last 10 years; if it equals these 5 years, I will resign from my post. I am going that far."

IT IS CLEAR IT WAS DONE BY ORDER AND INSTRUCTION

"Despite all this, I say audit us. I know why they are angry. When they see hundreds of thousands of people together on Republic Day, something happens to them," said İmamoğlu, continuing as follows:

"This is nothing but judicial harassment. It is clear that it was done by order and instruction. Well, shall we take a look at the reputation of this government that is trying to uncover this so-called corruption? This is the government that placed Turkey 115th among 180 countries in the international corruption index... I would be ashamed if I listed the countries we are mentioned alongside on this bad list."

"I AM FOLLOWING THOSE WHO ABUSE THE LAW"

"I am closely following those who abuse the law in this process and those who interfere with justice by order and instruction," said İmamoğlu, noting the following:

"I am sure that millions of people in this country are also following them closely to see what they are doing. Our nation has never erased from its memory any person who has inflicted these bad practices upon it in the past or who has made our people miserable unjustly and unlawfully. When the day came, it held them accountable through the law, with the nation's wisdom and conscience, whether at the ballot box or in a way where the judiciary is fair. I announce to everyone its determination to hold them accountable, and it will do so again."