Kılıçdaroğlu reacts to the detention of Vahap Seçer
Speaking in front of the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stated that Vahap Seçer must be released immediately.
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Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu visited the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality following the detention of Vahap Seçer, the President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, along with two other mayors.
Making a statement in front of the municipal building, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the primary duty of mayors is to serve the public and, when necessary, to be held accountable to the public. Stating that Vahap Seçer has been serving Mersin since the day he was elected, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that CHP mayors are at their posts "24 hours a day."
"DID HE NOT COME WHEN YOU CALLED?"
Reacting to the detention method, Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized that the law should not change according to individuals or the government. Kılıçdaroğlu said, "The home of a mayor, a metropolitan mayor, is not raided and searched at five o'clock in the morning. It is not right. Did our metropolitan mayor not go when you invited him? Did he not come when you asked?"
Kılıçdaroğlu stated that mayors would go when summoned to testify and do not shy away from being held accountable, adding, "Detaining our mayors at five in the morning is incompatible with democracy. That is why we say rights, law, and justice."
Stating that Vahap Seçer should be released and return to his duties, Kılıçdaroğlu drew attention to Mersin's population of approximately 2 million. Kılıçdaroğlu reacted by saying, "If you arrest a metropolitan mayor, you have arrested two million residents of Mersin."
Arguing that the CHP is a party that is held accountable to the public, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that they cannot be silenced by political pressure. "We derive our power from the people," said Kılıçdaroğlu, adding that his party has adopted the principle of accounting for every penny to the nation.
In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu also touched upon the allegations he described as "fund corruption." Stating that if the purpose of the operation is to close these files, they will not allow it, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We will never close that book."