'President İmamoğlu': Istanbul Mayor takes the stage, chants erupt

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu attended the program organized as part of the İSKİ Küçükçekmece Environmental Project Groundbreaking Ceremony. As İmamoğlu took the stage after being announced, the gathered crowd held up their signs and began chanting, "President İmamoğlu."

During İmamoğlu's speech, the crowd frequently chanted, "Turkey is proud of you." İmamoğlu responded, "Thank you. It is perhaps the most beautiful thing a person can hear: the people they serve expressing their satisfaction."

'UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE NOT AMONG US'

Starting his speech by greeting the mayors, İmamoğlu also remembered Ahmet Özer and Rıza Akpolat, who were removed from office. İmamoğlu stated the following:

"We are a bit sad. We are also angry. Because while our serving mayors are here, unfortunately, they are not among us due to unjust, unlawful circumstances and the lack of a fair trial environment. We hope that both our Esenyurt Mayor, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer, and our Beşiktaş Mayor, Rıza Akpolat, will regain their freedom as soon as possible."

'WE DO NOT LIKE ONE-MAN SHOWS'

İmamoğlu continued his remarks as follows:

"The desire for power has blinded them. It is time to send these friends home. I believe in the people in every corner of this land. No one can intimidate us. No one can turn us back from this path. Let this be known very clearly. The spark that started in Istanbul will grow and illuminate our entire nation. I said it on the first night; I said I will not take what is not mine, and I will not let your rights be taken. This is the philosophy of our journey. We do not like one-man shows. We like the game to be played by everyone."

RESPONSE TO BAHÇELİ

İmamoğlu also responded to the remarks made by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who had targeted him. In his response to Bahçeli, he said:

"As a son of Trabzon, I am a Black Sea native who is determined and enthusiastic about serving my nation and my homeland. Every citizen and every region of my country is valuable. Let no one have any doubt about this. That is why I say, 'My God, do not let me be embarrassed before the people living in the lands where I was born.'"