President Erdoğan: The intention of those reviving 'Zübük' politics is to plunder the country

Erdoğan spoke at an iftar program in Istanbul. Here are the highlights from the statements of AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan:

Beyoğlu is preparing for Sunday's elections with a different kind of excitement. I believe that you will not let a single thing slip by at the ballot boxes.

We have the Hacı Hüsrev story. It happened in '89. While we were getting 10-15 votes in Hacı Hüsrev, we received over 700 votes in that election.

My brothers and sisters who are members of the ballot committee, we are also praying for all our brothers and sisters who are suffering oppression all over the world.

We will look after the orphan, the destitute, the oppressed, and everyone who is in a difficult situation. I once again wish mercy upon our brother Osman Karaaslan, whose passing we received news of. We will always remember him with gratitude.

"WITH GOD'S PERMISSION, WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR GOAL ON SUNDAY"

We have viewed every election as an opportunity to account for what we have done in the past and to receive the mandate for what we will do in the future.

In the past, there were those who tried to seize the authority they could not get from the nation through coups.

When I became the Mayor of Beyoğlu, I fell into a trap. Because of this, I spent 1 week in prison.

If we let them, both mentalities would immediately raise their heads. Because we keep a very tight grip on the ballot box, no one can resort to other paths.

We have witnessed many dirty bargains being made. The CHP candidate is chasing these games and these schemes. My people will not show such a path to 'Ekrem Efendi' in this election. With God's permission, we will achieve our goal.

"NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN IT"

Some parties have put their voters' votes up for sale. No one can explain the suitcases full of euros. A game unrelated to the future of the city is being played in Istanbul in this election.

The campaign they are running with half-lies and half-incorrect information is quite dark behind the scenes. The intention of those reviving 'Zübük' politics is to plunder Istanbul today and the entire country tomorrow.

I pray that God protects us from those who tell 40 lies on one foot.

"THE ELECTION IS CERTIFIED AT THE BALLOT BOX"

An election is won in the field and certified at the ballot box. You have worked heart and soul in the field with our candidates and our organizations until today.

The real duty awaits you on Sunday. I wholeheartedly believe that you will protect the ballot boxes. We need to keep a tighter grip on the work than ever before.

We have no eyes on anyone's vote, but we cannot let the vote given to us go to waste. We will follow everything step by step. We will not abandon our duty for even a moment, whether as a building official, a floor official, or a ballot observer.

No matter what happens, we will not leave our post until a substitute official arrives. Our ballot officials must not comply with any information that does not originate from our organization.

As a final word, I say this: A mishap at the ballot box can happen once every 5 years.

Istanbul's 5 years have been lost. We cannot leave Istanbul to the same fate for another 5 years. I wish that the March 31 election, where it will be determined which mentality will govern our city, will be auspicious.