Remarkable remarks from İmamoğlu regarding DEM, DEVA, and Gelecek! 'Some friends are targeting us...'

CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been detained at Silivri Prison since March 23, has shared his assessments regarding the current agenda.

Responding to questions from T24 columnist Murat Sabuncu, Imamoglu commented on the new reconciliation process dubbed "Terror-Free Turkey," as well as the photograph taken at the reception held for the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on October 1, where AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came together with opposition leaders. Imamoglu also spoke about the tension between the CHP and the DEM Party.

Criticizing Erdogan and the government regarding the scene at the parliamentary reception, Imamoglu stated the following:

“Turkey is witnessing such political violence and polarization that even the President of the country and opposition party leaders posing for a photo under the roof of the TBMM is now met with great surprise. It is not the existence of this photograph, but the fact that these meetings have not taken place until today that is a great misfortune. We or other opposition parties are not responsible for this. The person who has been straining the country for years and attacking opponents with insults and threats has brought us to this state. The fact that this photograph has been debated for 15-20 days shows us a lot about the quality of our democracy. It is not democrats, but anti-democrats who are governing Turkey.

This photograph is a state of necessity for a government that feels lonely and powerless to seek legitimacy through opposition political parties that it has never valued, ignored, alienated, and insulted in the worst possible ways until today.

This great effort shown to be pictured with opposition leaders, and the attempt by palace photographers to capture the desired photos while recording every frame, shows us that there is a mise-en-scène here. It is necessary to remember that for years, the government has attacked the leaders—whom it addressed with the most vulgar expressions like 'traitor' and 'terrorist' until just yesterday, and whom it addressed with the highest level of anger and hate speech—with a language never before seen in politics.

We must identify that this politics, carried out with a 'two-faced, opportunistic, and the end justifies the means' mentality, applies all kinds of hypocrisy and insincerity whenever needed.”

Regarding the tension between the CHP and the DEM Party, Imamoglu made the following comment:

“As for the discussions on social media... The sole responsibility for the negative perception created in society by even just taking a photograph, and for becoming reactive even to a civilized environment that should be normal, lies with the President and the government mentality that has cast aside handshaking, courtesy, and sportsmanship in politics. I see the reaction of society to this photograph as a warning and protest against the government, which is responsible for the hostility toward those who are not 'one of them,' the polarization the country is experiencing, and all kinds of political and unlawful attacks carried out through state institutions and the judiciary.

I do not label what is happening as tension. Let me offer a friendly warning to those who set up courts based on isolated comments and attempt to judge us: Politics is a job that must be done with sensitivity. Furthermore, when we are in such a critical process, everyone needs to act with care for the sake of the nation's future.”

Arguing that the DEM Party has been voicing the lawlessness committed against itself and the CHP since March 19, Imamoglu said regarding the imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yuksekdag: “We have also been standing against the lawlessness committed against them for years, primarily the imprisonment of Mr. Demirtas and Ms. Yuksekdag, and for this reason, we are accused of 'supporting terrorism' by the government in every election period. We have been expressing that Mr. Demirtas and Ms. Yuksekdag should be free for years, not just now. Let there be no misunderstanding, we do not look at who the lawlessness is committed against. What we defend is the existence of the Republic of Turkey, the national will, and the rule of law. We will continue to defend it. Standing against injustices is the duty of not only the CHP but all democrats in our country.”

While reactions have risen within the opposition front regarding the Gelecek Party and DEVA, which entered the TBMM on CHP lists, coming side-by-side with Erdogan, Imamoglu noted the following regarding these criticisms:

“I also hear that some citizens are angry at the opposition party leaders in this photograph. There is nothing to be angry about. This photograph is a snapshot of the government's desperation. If the person who expelled Mr. Davutoglu from the party he chaired, who used expressions that fit neither our religion nor political morality—such as 'dividing the ummah'—against Mr. Babacan for founding a party, and who has accused DEM Party members of terrorism for years, needs such a photograph today in the pursuit of legitimacy, this is only an expression of the desperation of those in power.

What did we say? 'There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us.' And we are fighting by fully embracing this motto. Let alone judging this photograph, I stand in a place that embraces our Chairman's words: 'The era of opposing the opposition is over.' However, I see that some friends with whom we were in an alliance in the past are taking isolated comments on social media too seriously and are using expressions against us that we do not deserve at all.

I address them with sincerity: The CHP's Chairman, Central Executive Board (MYK), Party Assembly, and Presidential Candidate are clear. Targeting us based on comments you see on social media may be very easy politically. You can say whatever you want, you can choose whatever politics you want. We are fighting against the greatest political siege Turkey has ever seen. We choose this struggle. We live with this struggle. The nation will evaluate everyone according to their choices.”