A message of 'solidarity' from the CHP! 'Our path is long, our excitement is high'
The CHP has declared the imprisoned Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu as its presidential candidate following a primary election held across 81 provinces. The candidacy process was officially launched with over 14 million 800 thousand votes. Party members demonstrated great solidarity with the message, “Our path is long, our excitement is high.”
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The Republican People's Party (CHP) went to the polls in 81 provinces on Sunday, March 23 (yesterday) to determine its candidate for the presidential elections.
OFFICIALLY THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who entered the primary as the sole candidate and was arrested and removed from office yesterday morning, has officially become the party's presidential candidate.
OVER 15 MILLION VOTES CAST
The CHP organization made its decision through a broad-participation process with more than 15 million votes.
At the voting stations, “solidarity ballot boxes” were also set up due to İmamoğlu's arrest, adding symbolic meaning to the process.
While the high turnout drew attention, the process was carried out by party members with great determination.
'OUR PATH IS LONG, OUR EXCITEMENT IS HIGH'
İmamoğlu's candidacy was announced on the CHP's official social media accounts with the note, “Our path is long, our excitement is high, we have our youth! We are starting.”
The emphasis on the party's unity and solidarity was at the forefront of the shared image. This post received great attention from both party members and the public.
İMAMOĞLU ARRESTED YESTERDAY MORNING
Just hours before his candidacy was announced, Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested by the decision of the duty magistrate judge as part of a corruption investigation into the İBB.
While it was deemed unnecessary to arrest İmamoğlu for the charge of “aiding an armed terrorist organization,” for which his arrest had been requested, he was sent to prison under a different charge.
İmamoğlu, who was transferred to Silivri Marmara Prison, had his candidacy officially announced despite his ongoing situation in prison.
MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY FROM THE CHP
CHP sources described İmamoğlu's arrest as a “political hostage-taking attempt,” stating that they would continue their struggle against this process.
Statements made from within the party emphasized that there would be no concessions regarding democracy and the will of the people.