Criticism of 'primary election' for CHP leader Özel: 'CHP must use the İmamoğlu opportunity correctly'

BirGün newspaper columnist Fikri Sağlar stated that the AKP has utilized black money emerging in Istanbul, that mafia leaders were granted citizenship during the term of former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, and that the city was turned into a hub for drug trafficking, writing: "The Metropolitan Municipality under the leadership of Ekrem İmamoğlu has stood as a barrier for 5 years against the rent-seeking order created by the AKP and this negative trajectory, for the sake of 16 million Istanbulites. The AKP members, stung by the election on June 24, 2019, tried to block İmamoğlu from providing services by using the power of the government and the state. But they did not succeed..."

"THE COUNTRY CANNOT TOLERATE AN AKP VICTORY"

Arguing that Ekrem İmamoğlu is the favorite in the local elections to be held on March 31, 2024, Sağlar used the following expressions: "The CHP headquarters has made wrong decisions in determining mayoral candidates... Because the method of candidate selection is not correct! Moreover, it does not fit the culture and vision of the CHP... Did Chairman Özgür Özel fail to keep his promise of a primary election because he does not trust the party members? This situation will directly affect the election results. At a time when caliphate flags are being unfurled, the country cannot tolerate an AKP victory! The CHP must use the İmamoğlu opportunity correctly and well..."