Ekrem İmamoğlu: We will walk with determination on Atatürk's path

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey with a magnificent event. The celebration program, for which preparations began months in advance, was held at the Maltepe Event Area with the participation of CHP chairmanship candidate Özgür Özel, CHP chairmanship candidate Örsan K. Öymen, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the people of Istanbul who filled the area.

İmamoğlu gave a speech to the citizens filling the square, summarized as follows:

“DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE REPUBLIC IS?”

Do you know what the Republic is? The Republic is a pledge of honor and integrity we have given to one another. On October 29, 1923, we all gave a promise together. We said, 'Everyone will be equal and free in this beautiful country.' We said, 'In this land, our 86 million people will be equal shareholders.' No separation or privilege will be granted to anyone or any group.

We had all promised together that we would not accept any power above the will of the nation in this country. We promised each other that we would accept everyone as equally respectable and valuable, regardless of our differences—Turk, Kurd, Laz, Circassian—without looking at any of our differences.

We promised to live with love, respect, and solidarity. We said, 'We will care about each other. We will stand by each other.' The Republic of Turkey is still standing and very strong today because we have remained loyal to the promise we made on October 29, 1923, and because we have supported each other in solidarity.

“THE REPUBLIC REJECTS MASTERS AND DOMINATION”

We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of our Republic with the same enthusiasm and hope as the first day. Long live the Republic. No matter how much we celebrate, it is not enough. No matter how much we take pride, it is not enough. No matter how much we commemorate the founder of our country, the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it is not enough. We are grateful to him. The Republic is a reality that goes far beyond a state regime.

The Republic is also a social project that we have created together. At the core of this social project lies human freedom, equality, and social solidarity.

The Republic is the name of a regime where people live together in solidarity, freely and equally, without any pressure or domination, and govern together. The Republic rejects masters and domination. The era of subjects has ended; the era of citizenship has begun. In the understanding of the Republic, no individual or social segment can establish domination over others.

Likewise, the state cannot establish domination over society. The state loves its citizens. The state looks at its citizens with compassion. The state does not establish domination. Our Republic is the name of the social peace established by free and equal citizens in solidarity.

The ideal of the Republic is also the guarantee of international peace. In these days when the world is experiencing great suffering under wars, occupations, and oppression, protecting our Republic means protecting peace, tranquility, and brotherhood. It means protecting humanity. Protecting our Republic means sending a message of equality, freedom, solidarity, and peace to the world.

“WE WILL WALK WITH DETERMINATION ON ATATÜRK’S PATH”

As we step into the second century, we are all faced with the task of renewing our Republic, that is, our unity. We will achieve this by healing the historical wounds in society. We will bring together all segments, whoever feels excluded, around the principles of equality, freedom, solidarity, and peace.

We will stand shoulder to shoulder. We will succeed by bringing people together. The condition for making Turkey a free, happy, strong, and stable country is to meet around the principles and values of the Republic. We will realize the greatest reconciliation, this beautiful meeting, all together once again.

With the self-confidence and courage that the Republic has given us,”