Message on 'absolute nullity' from İmamoğlu

The second stage of the M5 Çekmeköy-Sancaktepe-Sultanbeyli Metro Line, the Samandıra Merkez-Sultanbeyli Line, which was commissioned as part of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's (IMM) transportation projects, was opened with a ceremony. The new metro, which consists of 8 stations and will provide integration with main arteries such as Marmaray and Metrobus, will reduce travel time on an important route for the Anatolian Side to 50 minutes.

The ceremony was attended by IMM Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, IMM Secretary General Prof. Dr. Volkan Demir, mayors, council members, industry representatives, neighborhood heads (muhtars), and numerous citizens.

“I STAND WITH OUR PARTY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY”

One of the most notable parts of the opening event was the message sent by IMM Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained in prison. Addressing the "absolute nullity" decision that has recently come to the agenda and faced backlash, İmamoğlu emphasized national will and democracy. In his message, İmamoğlu stated the following:

“I stand with our Chairman Özgür Özel, our Party, and the Republic of Turkey. The national will is an infallible scale. As of today, the nation has decided to whom it will not entrust its will. We are soldiers who believe that the nation's will is best represented at the ballot box.”

“I AM PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROJECT”

Expressing his happiness regarding the opening of the second stage of the metro line, İmamoğlu thanked all the personnel and contractors who contributed. He emphasized that they moved forward by producing solutions against the difficulties encountered in bringing the project to Istanbul. Furthermore, he stated that since taking office in Istanbul, more than 65 kilometers of rail systems have been put into service in 5 years despite financing and engineering problems, and that this is a record.

“WE DID NOT GIVE UP ON SERVICE DESPITE OBSTRUCTIONS”

In his statement, conveying their current management approach, İmamoğlu underlined that they provide services to the entirety of Istanbul despite various obstacles brought about by partisanship. He said that they are fighting against the mentality of “Why should we build a metro for those who do not vote for us?” and that they have adopted an egalitarian and solution-oriented approach to municipal governance.

He also stated that they paid off the costs of the lines taken over from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in a short time and significantly expanded the rail transportation network in Istanbul.

Underlining that metro and transportation investments are not limited to building new lines, and that they place weight on domestic production and the use of national resources, İmamoğlu said that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has started to produce “Tram34” vehicles and that this is a strategic step for the city. He expressed that municipal resources are spent for the public and that they act with the principle of fair and transparent governance.

Stating that he and his team act with a sense of justice and social responsibility, İmamoğlu emphasized that the current situation does not create regret or anxiety for him with the words, “My conscience is very clear in my 12-square-meter cell.”

“The nullity decision taken is null and void; it is not just a coup against the CHP. It is a coup against Turkey, democracy, and the Republic. It is the destruction of the constitutional order. It is the end of the Republic,” said İmamoğlu, inviting society to protect democracy with unity and solidarity.

Speaking at the ceremony, IMM Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan emphasized that despite the legal pressures faced by Ekrem İmamoğlu and the municipal administration, they have been working tirelessly for Istanbul. He stated that qualified staff have shown the will to complete projects with their own resources without using loans from state banks. Touching on the importance of bringing the first metro line in its history to Sultanbeyli, Aslan announced that transportation has been facilitated by the rail system network and that the capacity of the metro line will be 65 thousand passengers per hour.

Emphasizing that the services provided are offered to all citizens without political discrimination, Aslan used the phrase, “Our passion is not just talk; it is Istanbul from the heart!”

NEW METRO LINE WILL BE FREE FOR 9 DAYS

It was also announced that Istanbul residents using the Samandıra Merkez-Sultanbeyli Metro Line will be provided with free transportation service for a total of 9 days, special to the opening. In addition, it was stated that existing bus and minibus lines will be integrated with the new rail system.

“THE GOAL IS TO EQUIP ISTANBUL WITH IRON NETWORKS”

Aslan also stated that the principle of “continuity in the state” was adhered to in completing projects that were left unfinished in previous periods, and that a large part of the new metro lines were realized without taking loans from state banks.

It was shared that the length of the rail system was increased from 157.2 kilometers in 2019 to 380.7 kilometers as of 2026, and that their goal is to reach a 700-kilometer metro network in Istanbul.

Providing details on supporting production and technology with domestic means, Aslan stated that the new metro line will also contribute to districts such as Sancaktepe, Çekmeköy, and Üsküdar, and that the capacity of public transportation has reached unique levels.

“WE ARE WAITING FOR SIGNATURES FOR METRO INVESTMENTS”

During the speeches, metro projects waiting for the Presidential signature were mentioned, and support requests were reiterated, especially for projects like the Beylikdüzü Metro. All political party leaders and ministers were invited to the opening ceremony of the Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe line, which is targeted to open at the end of the year.

Stating that they aim to create a rail transportation infrastructure that will be shown as an example in Turkey and the world, Aslan provided the information that in terms of the number of passengers carried annually, Istanbul carries twice as many passengers as the population of the European Union.

The emphasis on populist and justice-oriented municipalism, symbolized by the name of Ekrem İmamoğlu, dominated the ceremony. In the service and production-oriented approach, unifying discourses above the political divisions in the city came to the fore.

“THE CHILDREN OF THE REPUBLIC SHOULD NOT LOSE HOPE”

At the end of the ceremony, the names of Rail Systems Department Head Ceyhun Avşar, who is detained in prison, and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu were mentioned, and everyone who contributed to the project was thanked. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality officials said that channels of dialogue with the central government will remain open and that public interest-oriented work will be evaluated above politics.

The messages given at the opening once again underlined the importance of social solidarity and service, especially in light of the judicial decisions regarding the CHP.