First message from Ekrem İmamoğlu after the convention: The walls of fear have been torn down

The CHP's 21st Extraordinary Convention gathered at the Yenimahalle Nazım Hikmet Culture Center under the theme "The Will Belongs to the Nation." While the convention was underway, a rally titled "The Nation Claims Its Will" was held in front of the culture center.

At the rally, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik first read the message from CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. While İmamoğlu's message was being read, citizens chanted slogans such as "Government resign" and "There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us."

"THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT A RIVAL PARTY"

Ekrem İmamoğlu's message is as follows:

"Our party's 21st Extraordinary Convention is gathering during an extraordinary period in every respect. Our nation is under heavy siege today. This siege is the siege of an oppressive government that clearly declares it is not bound by law and democracy and sees itself as the owner of the state. This government does not want a rival in front of it. This government does not want a rival party in front of it, and it does not want free and fair elections to be held. It has only one concern. They want to keep the one-man system alive, which is dragging the country into disaster in every field from the economy to health, from education to justice. However, no oppressive system can survive against the nation. The dignity of the nation and its determination to claim its own will and future are above all kinds of tyranny.

"WE WILL BUILD A GOVERNMENT OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND BROTHERHOOD TOGETHER"

Since the first day, CHP conventions have been places where this dignity and determination have been symbolized and where this struggle has been shaped. I have no doubt that our convention will follow the same path today. Our party will prioritize the necessity of completing its national duty above all opinions, will proceed with devotion and determination in line with the fundamental principles of our republic, and will certainly succeed. The difficulties we will encounter and the suffering they will cause on this honorable path that we will walk together until the end are merely details. With these feelings, I congratulate our Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel, who has refreshed his mandate at our convention, and wish him great success. I thank all our convention delegates and fellow travelers who carried out our convention in unity. I remind you once again: no matter what they do, we will succeed; we will defeat injustice and tyranny. We will build a government of freedom, equality, and brotherhood together.

"THE WALLS OF FEAR HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN"

I am addressing you as the presidential candidate of our party, determined by the joint will of our 15.5 million citizens on March 23. They can throw me and my friends in jail as much as they want; I am not afraid at all. Because our noble nation has united; division and separation have ended. The nation has united against the oppressor and oppression. The nation has united in the will to tear down and cast away this darkness all together. The nation has united in conscience, the nation has united in justice, and the nation has united in the understanding of a common destiny and a common future. The walls of fear have been torn down. The youth are standing tall, the women are standing tall. This nation has shown that it will not be taken over.

The nation has shown that it will crush and overcome all traps and conspiracies. The nation has shown that it is the owner of the state. When I set out on this path, I gave a promise: 'I will not take what is not mine, and I will not let anyone take what is mine,' I said. 'No matter what happens, I will not take a single step back from the struggle for the beautiful days this nation deserves,' I said. I will keep my word; I will never take a step back. I will fulfill the duty given by the nation under all conditions, even at the cost of my life. I will fight without fear, without giving up, and without getting tired for justice, for a peaceful society, to be a wealthy nation, for a democratic order, and for a strong state. I entrust myself first to God and then to the nation. As great as the love for my country within me, I shout from my endless cell as loud as I can: The nation is great, the nation is great, the nation is greater than all governments. I embrace you all with love and friendship."