İmamoğlu recounts an interesting incident at the Palace! 'In the setting where the President was hosting...'

CHP’s re-nominated Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu made notable statements ahead of the upcoming local elections.

Speaking to Mynet, İmamoğlu recounted the most interesting incident he has experienced throughout his political career.

Recalling the invitation to the Palace by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after he was elected mayor in 2019, İmamoğlu said:

"Well, the most interesting incident I've had with another politician... Honestly, I suppose it would be the incident where the chair broke when we were hosted at the palace during this period, what can I say. My chair broke in the setting where the President was hosting, or I don't know how it broke among so many chairs, I really don't know. I wonder if this embarrassment is the reason behind his decision not to invite me again?"

"MY MISTAKES ARE MORE PERSONAL"

When asked, "Is there anything you wish you hadn't done politically in the last 5 years?", İmamoğlu replied:

"Well, it is natural for a person to have regrets. Of course, I have regrets too, but I won't list specific things: I wish I hadn't done this, I wish I hadn't done that... I am a person who admits to having shortcomings and strives to correct them, and I am already doing that. 

I feel good as I do it. I think this is also good for society. But of course, I have regrets, but I don't have any major regrets, meaning I don't have any major mistakes, thank God. My minor shortcomings and mistakes are more personal, individual mistakes, I can say. In that respect, they exist. I am correcting them too. No human is without faults."

ASSERTIVE ON LOCAL ELECTIONS: WE WILL HAVE MANY SURPRISES

Responding to the question, "Which of the district municipalities that your party could not win in the 2019 Istanbul elections will you win? Are you expecting any surprises?", İmamoğlu said:

"I wouldn't call it a surprise, but there are many. I mean, our people will truly experience that feeling of surprise in many of our districts, I feel this. I feel it in my heart. People want that change, and we truly have good, principled, and attentive candidates in every district. I think we will have many surprises. It would be wrong for me to name them."

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In 2019, Erdoğan met with 29 mayors at the Palace, and during the critical meeting, the leg of the chair İmamoğlu was sitting on broke.

Upon this, Erdoğan pointed to the chair and said, "Look, this is waste; you broke the chair you were sitting on." İmamoğlu replied, "I will sit firmly on the second one, sir."