Ekrem İmamoğlu explains why Tansu Çiller is supporting Murat Kurum! 'A sweet, honey-glazed zoning deal...'

Accelerating his local election campaign, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu addressed citizens in Çekmeköy.

"WHERE IS A PRIVILEGED INDIVIDUAL, WHERE ARE 100 THOUSAND YOUTH"

Taking a jab at the AKP, İmamoğlu said, "We opened dormitories for university students; before us, the number of dorms was 0. The number of nurseries was 0, now there are 100. They were able to give 200 thousand dollars in scholarships to one privileged person. What are we doing? Just this year, we are giving 7 thousand 500 lira in scholarships to 100 thousand of our youth. Where is a privileged individual, where are 100 thousand youth? Next year, we will give 15 thousand lira in scholarships."

REACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE ECONOMY

Criticizing the government regarding the economy, İmamoğlu stated, "They have made the economy miserable, they have disgraced the economy. We are the only country in the world with the most worthless, triple-digit inflation. What happened? The money entering homes decreased, and a mother could no longer afford to buy milk for her child. I am proud to distribute 25 million liters of milk to hundreds of thousands of our children with my head held high."

RESPONSE TO TANSU ÇİLLER, WHO SUPPORTS MURAT KURUM

Touching upon former Prime Minister Tansu Çiller's statement supporting Murat Kurum, İmamoğlu said, "She is skilled at ruining the economy. She is someone who made us experience triple-digit inflation and high interest rates in the mid-90s, just like today. The lady said, 'My support is for Mr. Kurum.' As if he would solve urban transformation! I know why she is supporting him. She is supporting him because he granted a sweet, honey-glazed zoning deal for her 13,000-square-meter plot of land," he said.

İmamoğlu continued as follows:

"She insistently pushed for zoning on her own 13,000-square-meter land in Sarıyer; we insistently filed lawsuits and had it cancelled. Why would she support me! She knows where to give her support. He caused her to gain rent, and I am working to ensure my nation gains rent. That is the difference."

REACTION TO KANAL İSTANBUL

Reacting to the AKP's contradictory stance on Kanal İstanbul, İmamoğlu said, "They used to ask about Kanal İstanbul, remember what they were saying. They were saying, 'We will do it.' Now that they want to get votes from 16 million people, they don't even mention it. How skilled they are; I would be ashamed, but they don't even blush."