Fatih Mayor Turan's first comments on İmamoğlu's "opening invitation" statement

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu had spoken about the controversy surrounding the opening invitation for the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme Rail System Line, stating that the invitation came from Fatih Mayor Ergün Turan.

İmamoğlu had said, "I thank him for the invitation. The invitation came to the IMM Mayor's protocol, that is, to my protocol."

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu conducted inspections at the Yedikule Station regarding the "Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme Rail System and Pedestrian-Oriented New Generation Transportation Project." Turan, who accompanied Minister Uraloğlu, answered questions from members of the press there.

When reminded of İmamoğlu's statement that he was invited via an email sent by the Fatih Mayor to the opening to be held in Kazlıçeşme with the participation of AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, Turan stated that no invitation had been sent to İmamoğlu by the Ministry.

Turan said, "An opening is being held in Fatih. In the functioning of the state, when an opening is held, this is ultimately not the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. That place is a unit related to this operation. We are announcing to everyone that such an opening will be held here for informational purposes."

Expressing that this issue has been discussed for 3 days as if a metropolis like Istanbul has no other problems, Turan said, "I watched the 'I was invited, I wasn't invited' discussion over this polemic with sadness. The mayor makes a statement in front of the public for 15 minutes, saying 'This one invited me, that one invited me'.

Our private offices discussed this among themselves. I can publish those correspondences too. But this is shameful; this is not the public's agenda. An opening is being held. This joy is the joy of all of us. It is also the joy of the Istanbul Mayor."

"MR. MURAT IS UNSUCCESSFUL IN POLEMICS"

Noting that Ekrem İmamoğlu is an old friend and that AKP's IMM mayoral candidate Murat Kurum is also a former colleague, Turan continued:

"I say this as someone who knows both. Mr. Ekrem is very successful in polemics. Mr. Murat is unsuccessful in polemics. Mr. Murat is very successful in one thing, I say this as a colleague. Because in our discipline, there is only, only work. There is serving people. As a friend, as a companion, I say this with a bit of anger.

If Mr. İmamoğlu were to lose the election in Istanbul or leave his post today, what service or what feature would he be remembered for? He will be remembered for only one thing in these 5 years. He will be remembered for his polemics. He will be talked about for his constant back-talking to the President, ministers, and every segment of society.

Istanbulites need a hardworking mayor who will meet their needs and not engage in polemics. In my opinion, what our citizens will decide in this election is this: Will they choose a mayor who only chases after polemics, saying 'We were invited, we weren't invited, our President said this, that, the minister said so, said this'? Or will they choose a mayor who will work?"

Reminding that he has been serving as mayor in the central district of Istanbul for 5 years, Turan emphasized that if he wanted to, he could also be on the agenda with a polemic every day, but that they only work.

"HE IS A MASTER OF POLEMICS, HE CAN BEAT HIM THROUGH POLEMICS"

Stating that if İmamoğlu wants to visit an opening, he can come to the opening of the Land Walls National Garden projects, Turan said, "Our issue is not the opening or closing. The Mayor's problem is not receiving an invitation or being invited or not. He can beat him through polemics.

Mr. Murat Kurum is not a polemicist; he is a hardworking minister, a hardworking mayor. He can beat him with polemics, but he cannot beat him with work. Is what Istanbul needs polemics or work? I leave this to the conscience of the public."

Stating that he has never been on the public agenda with polemics, Turan said, "The issue is not the invitation. He probably thinks he will beat Mr. Murat from here. It is true, he is a master of polemics, he can beat him through polemics. We already do not want a polemicist mayor. We want a mayor who works in Istanbul. What the people of Istanbul really need is a hardworking mayor who works for Istanbul."