CHP holds 'Will' rally in Antalya

The CHP Antalya Provincial Organization called on citizens to meet in front of the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality today following the arrest of Muhittin Böcek. The gathering was attended by CHP Group Deputy Chairman and Mersin Deputy Ali Mahir Başarır, CHP Antalya Deputies Cavit Arı, Sururi Çorabatır, Aykut Kaya, and Mustafa Erdem, CHP Antalya Provincial Chairman Nail Kamacı, district chairmen, party members, and citizens.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO TAKE THROUGH THE JUDICIARY WHAT IT COULD NOT TAKE THROUGH ELECTIONS, WE CONDEMN THIS"

CHP Antalya Provincial Chairman Nail Kamacı began his speech by expressing his condolences for the 5 soldiers who lost their lives in the Claw-Lock operation region and wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. Kamacı said the following:

“Today, 107 days have passed since the arrest of our mayors. The process that started in Istanbul later reached Izmir, Adana, Adıyaman, and finally Antalya. The government is trying to take through the judiciary what it could not take through elections. We condemn this. Yesterday, our Antalya Metropolitan Mayor was arrested. Lawyers who have sufficient knowledge about the issues related to the file are already speaking. He was arrested because of a hollow file. We met with our Mayor today. Our Mayor sends his greetings to all the people of Antalya; his morale is high. I know this: we enter prisons standing tall, and we come out standing tall.

I say this from here: You cannot prosper through oppression! Just yesterday, while the judicial process was ongoing, statements were being published one by one on TRT and the pool media. Who is ordering this? No one else can order this; only the power of the government can. We condemn this. Now, they are trying to take what they could not win in the March 31 elections by arresting our mayors through the judiciary. They did it to one; where is this? They won the municipality with Gaziosmanpaşa Municipal Council members. The President himself called and congratulated them. It is truly a regrettable thing.

"WE HAVE NO FEAR OF ANYONE, OUR FOREHEADS ARE CLEAR"

Our mayors, who could be called for testimony, are being taken from their homes at the crack of dawn and detained. If our mayors were going to run away anywhere, they would not have requested these duties. We have no fear of anyone; our foreheads are clear. We are the Republican People's Party. We want to trust in justice and the rule of law. Because the Republic of Turkey was a state of law when it was founded during the Atatürk era.

"PEOPLE OF ANTALYA, PROTECT THE VOTE YOU CAST, PROTECT YOUR WILL"

We have never deviated from populist, transparent, and social municipalism. Look at what our municipalities have done? They built nurseries, City Restaurants, and Neighborhood Houses. The government panicked because of three events. It said, 'If CHP municipalities do these things, the CHP and its candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu will be the next President.' Yes, it will be so, it will be so, it will be so. And we declare from here: We are behind our Mayor, our municipalities, and our populist local government approach to the end, and we will continue to be behind them. We are standing up for the will of the people in Antalya, and we have to, because you elected Muhittin Böcek and other mayors in Antalya. Therefore, CHP members, people of Antalya, protect the vote you cast, protect your will.

"THE AUDACIOUS THIEF IS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE THE HOMEOWNER. WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ACCEPT THIS"

Yesterday, someone made a statement, one of the last people who should be speaking... Antalya AKP Provincial Chairman Ali Çetin. He says, 'Corruption allegations, bribery, and operations in CHP municipalities.' Mr. Ali Çetin, I was returning from those roads while you were going; you will first account for your past here. People ask; whose were the dollars that came out of the boxes on December 17-25? Whose was the money in the safes? It was the palace's, the palace's... Didn't they say 'Zero the money'? The audacious thief is trying to intimidate the homeowner. We absolutely do not accept this.

"MANSUR YAVAŞ SUBMITTED NEARLY 100 FILES, WERE THEY INVESTIGATED?"

At that time, 4 ministers resigned from their posts; what happened? They continued their lives. No investigation was opened in Parliament; they were saved from going to the Supreme Court by AKP votes. Now they are continuing their lives. Similarly, the President dismissed 5 mayors. Why did he dismiss them? Due to metal fatigue... Who are they? Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Balıkesir. What does metal fatigue mean? It means the mines are worn out, the machines are not working. Especially, there was a deputy prime minister among them; what did he say? 'You sold Ankara parcel by parcel,' he said. What happened to those who sold it? Was an investigation opened? Mansur Yavaş submitted nearly 100 files; were they investigated? Did our Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor submit files; were they investigated? They know how to sweep their own filth under the rug, but the CHP is not like that. If there is a problem within us, it is our duty to solve those problems.

"WHETHER YOU CRACK OR BURST, YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ENTER THE EYES AND HEARTS OF THIS NATION AGAIN, AND YOU SHOULD NOT"

What did our Chairman say? 'You have fallen from the eyes and hearts of the nation,' he said. Whether you crack or burst, you will never be able to enter the eyes and hearts of this nation again. I mentioned the 4 ministers earlier... Zafer Çağlayan is continuing his life, Egemen Bağış became the Ambassador to Prague. The others are also continuing their lives.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND THE TRUTH"

We are behind our mayors, and we will continue to be with them. We will continue to serve the people and the Truth. This will be with the support of the people of Antalya and the entire nation living in Turkey. Muhittin Böcek was there during the Manavgat fires. Muhittin Böcek was there during the flood in Kumluca. Wherever there was any trouble in Antalya, Muhittin Böcek and our municipal employees were there. We thank them. But let them not worry, the truth will come out sooner or later. We will bring the truth to light sooner or later and start Mayor Muhittin working here again. Let everyone be sure of this.

"GET OFF THIS NATION'S BACK NOW"

At the end of my speech, I will give a piece of advice. You have tired this nation out too much. This nation has been getting tired for 23 years. You have governed the state in a way that no other government has been granted. Get off this nation's back now. Get off the poor's back, get off the unemployed's back, get off the farmer's back, get off the retiree's back. Just as you came to power with the votes of the people in the 2002 elections, bring the ballot box before the people again and realize the change of government in Turkey. This is your duty.”

Calling out to the citizens, asking, “Do you want elections on November 2nd,” Kamacı said, “Turkey is right here. Mr. President, Mr. Provincial Chairman, AKP deputies, hear this, the ballot box is right here. We invite you to the ballot boxes. We are waiting for the power of the Republican People's Party, which will contribute to the re-establishment of democracy in Turkey as soon as possible.”