İmamoğlu's 'rivals' remark: 'Sons-in-law, sons, ministers...'

Presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being held in Silivri Prison, answered questions from Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter İklim Öngel. İmamoğlu made notable remarks in response to a question about whom he would like to see as a rival in the presidential elections.

2028 ELECTIONS AND THE CANDIDACY DEBATE

While it is stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan cannot run for office again according to legal regulations in the presidential elections, which are scheduled to be held in 2028 according to the normal calendar, debates continue over whom the AKP and MHP will nominate.

While names such as Bilal Erdoğan, Hakan Fidan, and Selçuk Bayraktar are occasionally brought up in Ankara political circles, the scenario that elections could be moved forward so that Erdoğan can run again is also being evaluated among the possibilities.

On the CHP front, it is stated that the presidential candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu and that this decision will not change until the last moment. In this process, it is emphasized that the decision to emerge from the lawsuit filed by İmamoğlu against the cancellation of his diploma will be decisive.

“WHOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AS A RIVAL?”

İmamoğlu, who has been held in Silivri Prison since March 23, continues to give interviews to national and international press.

Speaking to the Cumhuriyet newspaper, İmamoğlu was asked the question, “Whom would you like to see as a rival?”

İmamoğlu gave the following response to this question:

“We do not choose our rivals. Because for us, an election is not about competition, wearing down the opponent, or hostility; it is about explaining our projects to our nation, sharing the visions we hold for Turkey, and presenting them to the approval of our nation. We want actions, not words, to be discussed. For this reason, we focus not on who our opponent will be, but on what we will do for Turkey.”

“MY DIPLOMA AND MY IMPRISONMENT ARE RELATED TO FEAR OF THE ELECTION”

In the continuation of his statement, İmamoğlu also made evaluations regarding the process conducted against him.

“However, those in power cannot function without choosing a rival. The only concern of those trying to take my diploma and those who have caused me to be imprisoned in Silivri for ten months is their fear of losing the election against Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom our nation has made a presidential candidate,” he stated.

“THEY ARE ATTACKING THE RIVAL”

Claiming that the government is trying to eliminate its rivals through extra-legal methods, İmamoğlu made the following assessment:

“Turkey is facing a government that is so detached from reality, full of lies and slander, that has lost its management skills, and is experiencing problems with merit and capability, that their only concern is to attack their rivals by pursuing a strategy of eliminating them through extra-legal methods when they cannot win the election.”

EMPHASIS ON “THRONE STRUGGLE”

Regarding the debates held over potential candidate names, İmamoğlu used the following expressions:

“No matter whom they nominate, we will compete and explain our projects to our nation. We would like to have a rival who does not harm democracy and justice and who truly cares about our country. However, unfortunately, this does not seem possible. Sons-in-law, sons, and ministers may be discussed. This is their internal matter. But let no one have any doubt that if they attempt to harm the country for a ‘throne struggle,’ they will always find us standing against them. Let everyone know that we will not allow this state to experience an interregnum period once again.”