İmamoğlu's message: 'They have caused enough damage, their era is over' – Speaking at October 29 celebrations

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu spoke at the October 29 Republic Day celebrations held in Yenikapı. İmamoğlu stated, "We are on the threshold of a new historical turning point. They have caused enough damage; their era is over, and it is time to get rid of the actors of the old era. We must leave this period full of zigzags behind and clear away the rubble."

Highlights from İmamoğlu's remarks:

"We are celebrating the first holiday of the second century of our Republic. We are experiencing a very special moment. Do not forget this moment; in the future, you may tell your children that we celebrated the first Republic Day of the second century in Istanbul together with our nation. May this first Republic Day of the second century be blessed for us all!

Let us talk a little about the Republic, a little about today, and a little about tomorrow... Those who declared the Republic on October 29 had a very clear goal; the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who dedicated his life to this cause—may his soul rest in peace, we are grateful to him, we thank that great leader. Atatürk defined that goal as follows: 'Ensuring the highest freedom, the highest equality, and justice in society.' 

Look at what Atatürk said 100 years ago, when the world did not yet know these words; he said 'freedom, equality, and justice.' The Republic was founded to provide these at the highest level and for everyone. The Republic is a magnificent design with historical depth. This magnificent design, of which Atatürk was the architect, was shaped by our common will after the wars and struggles we waged as a nation. It was shaped by the will of the nation. Each of us should be proud; the Republic in Turkey cannot be thought of separately from democracy. Atatürk founded it with his nation; the Republic of Turkey is the most organic republic in the world. 

The Republic, contrary to what is thought, represents not only the state but also our being together within the same state through our free will. In other words, we are together; while our state forms the institutional framework of this unity, our nation forms its spirit. The Republic and democracy can never, ever ensure national integrity without the separation of powers. It is the most important element of living and life. In this respect, what does that separation of powers say? The separation of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is the greatest guarantee of our democratic Republic. There is no other way for this.

Is it possible for every power to be in the hands of one person? No! If it were, this would not reflect well on the people. Therefore, as a result of great historical experience and unwavering will, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk designed the Republic this way from the very beginning. With all of this, Turkey has made a great leap in development and prosperity since 1923.

As a nation, we achieved very important things during a very difficult period of history. While the world was not talking about women's rights, the Republic—Atatürk—entrusted women's rights to this nation. We turned into a bright country running toward modernization in every field. Atatürk ended servitude; he said, 'You are free, nation. I want generations with free minds and free consciences.' Then the steps continued. Similar steps were taken in 1946, 1950, and even 1983 to consolidate democracy in the name of liberation and democracy. Today, as we realize the 101st anniversary of the Republic, our country is going through a major test. It is going through a severe test. 

Unfortunately, our democratic republic is in crisis. The reason for this, in particular, is that for about 8 years, since 2016, we have been facing a top-down regime that does not fit Turkey's history and democratic experience at all. This system, imposed on Turkey through a dubious referendum, represents a bad deviation in our country's strong historical journey. This system imposed on us removes and rejects our most important value, the separation of powers. It belittles the parliament, the nation's Assembly, ignores the will of the nation, and turns justice institutions into tools of politics. And especially, dear young people, this concerns you; it fundamentally destroys the principle of merit, which is the foundation of the Republic. Yet, every young child of mine should be able to say, 'If I work, I should be able to get what I deserve' in this country. But they destroyed this; we will bring it back! We will bring back merit, we will bring back the rights of the nation's children.

'GANGS ARE SPRINGING UP EVERYWHERE'

This system imposed on you and us has, on one hand, impoverished our country economically. On the other hand, it has restricted our freedoms under the guise of security justifications. This damages the seriousness of the state. It personalizes the state. You know there is a word called 'my person' (şahsım); it turns it into my person. Yet, can the state be 'my person'? The state belongs to the nation, to the nation! They shake and stun our country with decisions and ideas that change every day. Everyone in Turkey has been made to long for state seriousness, democracy, freedoms, equality, and living together. Before the eyes of 86 million, the deep-rooted institutions of our state are unfortunately being rotted one by one. 

No one, including those closest to the government, feels safe. Even our trust in hospitals is shaken. At home, on the street, at work, at school, in the hospital, in court, no one feels safe. Gangs are springing up everywhere; for God's sake, what is this madness! Get to work! This country is not ownerless, you will see. This decay is spreading to society; everyone from the educated to the uneducated, from the poor to the rich, is affected. But no one deserves this. We have a debt to our Ancestor. Since 1923, many generations have served. Those born in certain years are now people managing some processes at certain levels of the state. Their era is over; they have caused enough damage. That is why we say that this is now the job of the new generation. We will also fulfill our duty in this period, and with our heads held high, we must quickly entrust the future to you beautiful young people. We trust you very much.

We set out to end this historical deviation by returning to the values Atatürk founded for the reunion of our Republic. While setting out, we trusted you, especially the youth. We will achieve this together! We are on the threshold of a new historical turning point. They have caused enough damage; their era is over, and it is time to get rid of the actors of the old era. We must leave this period full of zigzags behind and clear away the rubble."