İmamoğlu takes a jab at Kurum and Erdoğan over 'U-turns'! 'We saw the most concrete example on Valentine's Day'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu answered questions from members of the press.

Responding to Murat Kurum, who accused the opposition of using the disaster in Erzincan for political gain, İmamoğlu stated the following:

"Environmental issues are political issues. One's view on politics is related to one's view on life. There is the issue of an EIA report. An ignorant statement was made claiming that 21 public institution opinions are required and that it does not belong to this Ministry. Even here, a statement was made that misleads people. I heard the comment that this decision does not belong to us; that is very wrong. The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has failed to perform its duties in many areas.

Believe me, citizens can provide dozens of examples from all over Turkey. A mindset that was spelling out 'we will do it' regarding the Kanal Istanbul issue until yesterday can now say, 'it is not on the citizens' agenda, and it is not on our agenda either.'"

HE TOOK A JAB AT ERDOĞAN'S VISIT TO SISI

Stating that Kurum has made a U-turn on the Kanal Istanbul project, İmamoğlu also took a jab at AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Egypt.

"We saw the most concrete example of these U-turns on Valentine's Day," said İmamoğlu, adding, "The President, who asked 'Sisi or İmamoğlu?', visited Sisi in Egypt yesterday on February 14, Valentine's Day, by saying 'My dear brother'."

İmamoğlu continued his words as follows:

"We are used to these U-turns. But we will not even give the chance for a U-turn to people who would exhibit such attitudes and behaviors that are likely to be against our country. Hopefully, we will send them back to where they belong with a reverse gear."

STATEMENT ON POLLS

"Of course, we are getting satisfying results in the polls, but the candidates in Istanbul have only just matured. Other candidates may also emerge. Real polls will come before us with more concrete data after next week. Perhaps it would be more accurate to talk then. I find it a bit early right now."

'ONE SHOULD BE ASHAMED'

When asked, "The tender for the Atatürk Airport Nation's Garden was canceled as a result of a lawsuit filed by the İBB. When this issue was asked to your rival Murat Kurum, he made a statement like, 'Ask the İBB about that. Why did they file such a lawsuit? We were going to bring green space to Istanbul. Did it bother them?' Why did you file such a lawsuit?" İmamoğlu replied as follows;

“Look at the mindset that says, 'We will bring green space to Istanbul.' Excavators and trucks at the airport overnight... No one knows anything. So, what is this attack for? Even this answer is distressing. I really think his mind is not on Istanbul. I think he is speaking with a different mindset. He is likely not forming these sentences with his own will or mind. Whatever is told, whatever is explained, whatever is dictated; he is pronouncing it. One should be ashamed; one would not give such an example."