His candidacy had been withdrawn: Uygar Yıldırım: “We are seeking our rights. We are never harming the identity of the CHP"

Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr

As the local elections approach, the CHP continues to announce its candidates. Some candidates, such as those for the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, have faced public backlash. One of the districts where controversy has arisen is İzmir's Çiğli.

The CHP initially nominated 32-year-old Uygar Yıldırım in Çiğli. Later, at a Party Assembly meeting, Yıldırım's candidacy was withdrawn and replaced by Onur Emrah Yıldız. Yıldırım reacted sharply to the change. Yıldırım explained the process to 12punto.

Yıldırım stated that on the day his candidacy was announced, the district head sent an SMS to members from the district SMS line, saying, 'I have heard from some people. Uygar's mayoral candidacy will change. Do not support Uygar,' and called people to the district organization.

THE CHAIRMAN SAID ‘UYGAR YILDIRIM’

Stating that those who did not want him went to the CHP Headquarters, Yıldırım said:

“We are not someone they can control. We come from a family raised with party culture. They cannot force us to do something. Despite them sending these messages, on Tuesday, the Chairman said ‘32-year-old Uygar Yıldırım’ at the group meeting. Even though he said that, they are still going around telling people ‘no, it is not certain’ and conducting political work.”

Yıldırım also claimed that the CHP District Head targeted him:

“He is targeting me. I am receiving threatening phone calls. With mafia-like, lumpen talk such as, ‘Withdraw from the candidacy. Be smart. It won't be good for you and your family. Don't drag it out.’ I have all the phone numbers; they are all with the prosecutor's office and the police station. They are currently trying to find them.”

‘ALEVI INSTITUTIONS ARE INTERFERING WITH THE PARTY’

In a video he shared on his social media account, Yıldırım had said, “Alevi institutions should not interfere in the internal affairs of the CHP.” When we asked about these words, Yıldırım spoke as follows:

“The Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association is interfering. [They say] I am not Alevi. The issue here is not Alevism, it is about rent. [They want] someone who can be controlled, who is both rent-seeking and [claims to be] Alevi. Should I wear a Zulfiqar on my back? Should I go around shouting that I am Alevi? This institution and the Narlıdere Cemevi are doing everything they can to have our candidacy taken away.”

Yıldırım also said the following regarding the path he will follow from now on:

“We are seeking our rights. We are never harming the identity of the CHP. The CHP is permanent. Only some friends have committed a party crime. For example, the current district head has committed a party crime. He did not believe in the general attitude of the party or the words spoken by the Chairman. Or rather, he believed it but took his own actions to organize against it. The children speaking in front of that door are all my friends. They all know me very well. It is a group of 40-50 people. We have been walking with 600 people for 2 days.

Our friends will make their voices heard in the squares and streets so that our rights are returned. We are never harming the party identity. I don't care what people say. We want our candidacy to be returned so that the CHP does not experience a grievance and does not receive protest votes. This is not about a seat. This is a struggle to seek rights.

If the election goes like this here, it is a loss. A grievance is being created here. This is an internal family issue of ours. This internal family issue has been carried to the media a bit.”

When asked if he would run as a candidate from another party if his candidacy is not returned, Yıldırım responded with these words:

“I want our candidacy to be returned. I have no business with another party. There is no such thing as ‘if it is not returned,’ it will be returned. We are the true owners, the true children of the party.”