Ekrem İmamoğlu speaks in Taksim: 'The Republic of Türkiye has always been able to confront its mistakes'

A ceremony was held at the Taksim Republic Monument on the occasion of the October 29 Republic Day, marking the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, 1st Army and Istanbul Garrison Commander General Metin Tokel, Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu, Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Zafer Aktaş, CHP Istanbul deputies Yüksel Mansur Kılınç and Nimet Özdemir, Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party Istanbul deputies Evrim Rızvanoğlu and Elif Esen, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, IYI Party Istanbul Provincial Chair Yücel Coşkun and numerous representatives of political parties, institutions, associations, and unions attended.

The ceremony began with a moment of silence for the veteran Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, and all martyrs, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. Subsequently, Governor Gül, General Tokel, and İmamoğlu laid wreaths at the Atatürk Monument accompanied by a ceremonial guard and observed a moment of silence. The official ceremony concluded after the wreaths were laid. Following the official ceremony, representatives of political parties and executives of non-governmental organizations also laid wreaths at the monument.

'WE ARE A SOCIETY CAPABLE OF DELIVERING THE STRONGEST MESSAGES IN THE NAME OF THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY'

Imamoğlu, who took a commemorative photo with the participants in front of the monument, made the following statement to journalists:

“The Republic of Türkiye is very special. Of course, many states in the world have 'Republic' in their titles, but I describe the Republic of Türkiye as the 'most organic republic in the world.' Because it was founded with the participation of the nation, the people, and together with a leader who traveled every inch of Türkiye in a democratic search beforehand. It is a very special Republic that set out by saying 'Sovereignty belongs to the nation,' not by personal rule. At the same time, this Republic possesses a very special depth in terms of a tremendous struggle for the republic and a struggle for democracy. The Republic of Türkiye has completed its 100 years and is marching decisively into its second century. At the same time, the Republic of Türkiye is a Republic that is struggling to mature, build, and strengthen democracy right beside it, in its other hand. Therefore, it is rare in the world that we are a society so committed to democracy, one that feels and makes others feel democracy so deeply, and one that can deliver the strongest messages in the name of the struggle for democracy in environments that could never have been predicted from time to time.

THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE IS A CONCEPT ENTRUSTED TO THE YOUTH

The Republic of Türkiye and the state of the Republic of Türkiye belong to our 86 million citizens. The Republic of Türkiye is a concept entrusted to its nation. The Republic of Türkiye is a concept entrusted to the youth. With all these aspects, in the first Republic celebration of the second century, very special responsibilities certainly fall upon each of us; however, the figures who hold the different powers of our state, us, our other friends; but every member of our society, needs a truly strong architecture so that the lessons learned from the past century of our republic, the shortcomings seen, or the mistakes made are not repeated in this century. In this direction, as a nation, every layer of the public, our people, our 86 million citizens, everyone should see themselves as a responsible individual, and with all their tolerance, with all their sense of empathy, we are at a very important threshold in creating a century where everyone feels like a noble citizen, a citizen who is an equal shareholder of this country, where all shortcomings are completed and all mistakes are corrected, in order to create a nation where not even a single citizen is left behind.

THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO CONFRONT ITS MISTAKES

We must work very hard. Our hope is high. Moreover, the State of the Republic of Türkiye has actually always been able to confront its mistakes. It has been able to demonstrate its ability to repair itself to a reasonable extent. In addition to confrontation, of course, deep mistakes have been made, but we are here at the Taksim Monument in the presence of our Ata today with the responsibility of gathering all these together and bringing to our country the indivisible integrity of this country, the fully independent State of the Republic of Türkiye, and a structure strengthened by democracy. We hope and wish that, without bowing our heads, on the contrary, with our heads held high and our foreheads clear, we will all pass this important test at the beginning of the second century together and successfully. We will not have embarrassed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded our Republic, his comrades-in-arms, all his fellow travelers of that day, and our people. At the same time, we will not have bowed our heads to our martyrs from Çanakkale to the War of Independence and to this day, and we will have passed our test against them. We are here with this sentiment.

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY

Happy 101st anniversary of our Republic. Celebrating the Republic is the most sacred, most joyful moment for every citizen. I wish everyone, with their children, youth, women, and men, to taste and experience every street, every moment of Istanbul, the city of the Republic, this ancient city, one of the most important capitals of our history. Very special moments regarding the Republic have been designed in the districts and our metropolitan municipality. Please participate. Please let us experience this sacred moment together. Let us all feel our responsibilities together and look forward together in a very strong way. Happy Republic Day.”