Statement from CHP regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu and Muharrem İnce!

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın made statements regarding the agenda at a press conference he held at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

"RETIREMENT PENSIONS SHOULD BE RAISED TO THE LEVEL OF THE MINIMUM WAGE"

Reminding that the minimum wage is 11,402 liras, Günaydın stated that minimum wage earners are trying to survive with an income 3,000 liras below the hunger threshold, and that half of the 16 million retirees are trying to get by on 7,500 liras or less.

Gökhan Günaydın said, "Retirement pensions should be raised to at least the level of the minimum wage."

Recalling that the draft law on the economy currently being discussed in the TBMM includes a regulation to provide 45,000 liras in compensation to experts of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), Günaydın stated, "We are in favor of taking the necessary measures to ensure that all public employees, including BDDK experts, are not crushed by high inflation and the cost of living."

Noting that the PISA scores have been announced, Günaydın emphasized that Turkey has fallen to 36th place in reading, 39th in mathematics, and 34th in science among 81 countries, and that Turkey has regressed by 10 places in reading.

"WE ARE PREPARING TO TAKE IT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT"

CHP's Günaydın argued that three-quarters of Turkey is located in an earthquake zone, that 80 percent of citizens live in fear of a potential earthquake, and that the government has not taken serious steps in this area.

Stating that AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had promised to "deliver permanent residences within one year" following the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Günaydın continued as follows:

"One year is almost up, and the rate of houses delivered so far is not even 3 or 4 percent of the houses destroyed. What are they doing now? They are declaring every place a reserve area, regardless of whether it is a forest, agricultural land, wetland, or its distance to fault lines. This is becoming a new area for rent-seeking. They published the regulation regarding this in the Official Gazette on November 9. We are making the necessary preparations to take this to the Constitutional Court, not to hinder any work, but to prevent the rent-seeking you will create by using the earthquake as an excuse, and so that our citizens do not risk their lives once again in the wrong areas."

ALLEGATION THAT İMAMOĞLU MET WITH İNCE

When asked by a journalist about the allegations that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Memleket Party Chairman Muharrem İnce had met, Günaydın said, "I have no information regarding any meeting between Ekrem İmamoğlu and Muharrem İnce, or that any promise of a mayoral candidacy was made during such a meeting. Ekrem İmamoğlu is our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor. The Party Assembly decides on the determination of our mayors. It is normal for a meeting to take place, but the subject of any provincial or metropolitan mayoral candidacy cannot and has not been discussed there. I know both of them. Because the matter falls within the duty and authority of the CHP Party Assembly."

WILL İNCE RETURN TO THE CHP?

When asked whether it was possible for İnce to return to the CHP, Günaydın noted that according to the CHP Charter, the Party Assembly does not have the authority to declare a "general amnesty." CHP Group Deputy Chairman Günaydın continued his words as follows:

"If our friends who have been expelled from the party submit their petitions to the province and district that were the subject of the expulsion, they write this to the Central Executive Board along with their own opinions, and the Central Executive Board forwards this to the Party Assembly with its own opinion. This issue is voted on by secret ballot in the Party Assembly. In other words, as a result of the votes cast by 60 Party Assembly members in a sealed envelope, it is revealed whether a request for pardon will be accepted or not. In this context, there is no such thing as a collective amnesty. The Party Assembly makes decisions on the matters before it. There may be friends who have left the CHP for various reasons because they thought differently until today. After the party congress process, there is a new administration that society has given credit to and is determined to continue by embracing everyone. This new administration also says, 'Return to your father's hearth, let's do politics together.' This is a call to everyone, including the friends mentioned. Among them are those who have resigned on their own. They can re-apply for membership. Among them may be friends who have been expelled or received penalties. They, too, can request a pardon. All of these are carried out in accordance with the procedures written in the charter."

Stating that the CHP wants to transform its position as the "main opposition party" into the "ruling party" in the 100th year of the Republic, Günaydın stated that they are working for the local elections in this direction.