As first reported by 12punto: Buğra Gökce officially becomes a candidate for İzmir Metropolitan Municipality

Buğra Gökce, who resigned from his position as Deputy Secretary General of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has become a candidate for the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality mayoral nomination. Gökce submitted his candidacy file to the CHP Provincial Presidency. He has officially announced his candidacy.

In a statement made on social media, Buğra Gökce invited the people of İzmir to join him as he embarks on this great journey.

Gökce said, "Dear people of İzmir, in the second century of the Republic, we are embarking on a journey to make our İzmir the shining star of Turkey. I wish for you to accompany me as I take the first steps of this great journey, and I love İzmir and all of you very much."

"WE ARE EMBARKING ON A BRAND NEW JOURNEY"

Making a press statement, Buğra Gökce used the following expressions:

“I am very grateful to you for being here with me today at our Provincial Presidency, perhaps on a day as grand as a wedding. İzmir, the city of foundation and liberation, is also the heart and capital of the Republic. We have embarked on such a journey that I am perhaps experiencing the most special and happiest days of my life, and my heart swells with pride as I see the people of İzmir here with me today with such enthusiasm. İzmir is the symbol of freedom and tolerance. Perhaps it is the capital of freedom and tolerance. İzmir is a unique city in love with a pair of blue eyes, and it is the symbol and guarantee of the Republic’s revolutions, the secular, democratic, social state of law, and the Republic itself. And today, as people of İzmir who are in love with this beautiful stance, in love with the Republic, and passionate about democracy, we are perhaps marking the beginning of a festive day here. İzmir is my mother’s home, the jewel of my heart. İzmir is the path of those who are wholeheartedly devoted to the great Atatürk and who walk tirelessly on the path he opened toward the goal he showed. İzmir is my unique city of service, where I was first appointed as a member of the conservation board in 2008, where I left for Istanbul for 18 months, where I left my residence, and where I left my heart. Since 2008, I have had the honor of serving this beautiful city at various levels on many different occasions, as the Provincial Chair also mentioned, and I have felt great honor in this. Now, we are embarking on a brand new journey. Our goal is clear: Under the leadership of our Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel, to contribute to our party’s effort for a century of power and to start the 2028 journey from the local level in 2024, carrying the flag from İzmir, and to serve these beautiful people who are in love with the Republic and Atatürk from İzmir. To make it the leading city not only of Turkey but also of the wider Mediterranean and Aegean coasts and this basin.”

AS FIRST REPORTED BY 12PUNTO

12punto was the first to report that Buğra Gökce, who served in the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality during both the Aziz Kocaoğlu and Tunç Soyer terms before coming to the İBB, would become a candidate for İzmir.