Murat Kurum to İmamoğlu: We have invited him to all ceremonies so far, why hasn't he come?

AKP and People's Alliance Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate Murat Kurum answered questions on Habertürk.

Regarding the invitation crisis with IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Kurum said, "If he had called and asked to be invited, he would have been. We had also invited him to Hagia Sophia, but he didn't come."

Regarding allegations of a protocol crisis with former Minister of Transport and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Kurum said, "We very sincerely said to Binali Brother, 'Mr. Prime Minister, please move to the side of our President; you have contributed, it is fitting for you to be there. You move to his left and be there.' He said, 'It would be embarrassing now, I won't move.' We have state etiquette and state experience," he said.

"MR. İMAMOĞLU IS A MAYOR WHO HAS NOT FOLLOWED ANY STATE PROTOCOL"

Kurum's statements are as follows:

"Actually, there is nothing happening. Istanbulites are experiencing the same things that have happened over the last 5 years. The Metropolitan Mayor states that he was invited to the opening of the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme line, that he would attend this invitation, and that he paid for it himself. For some reason, the mayor decided to attend this ceremony, which is paid for by the Ministry of Transport. He is in a mindset of 'Can I create a polemic?' It is a different manifestation of the picture we have seen for 5 years. The political scenario they set up did not work. His seat was empty today, he didn't come. His place had been reserved. Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu is a mayor who has not followed any state protocol during his 5-year term. There were times he talked back to ministers. There were times he said unspeakable things about our President, who was elected by the will of the nation. There were times he drew a profile of a mayor who has no answer when asked 'what did we block' after the polemic of 'they blocked us, they didn't let us do it'.

Because he has no vision for Istanbul, he is trying to move the agenda outside of Istanbul. I tweeted today. Hundreds and thousands of Istanbulites are suffering while waiting in line. Today, a mother was crying and saying, 'Come and renovate our house as soon as possible, I don't want to live with the fear of an earthquake.' Young people don't want to look to the future with more confidence. As always, the IMM Mayor is chasing whether he was invited to the ceremony or not. The foundation of the metro construction, for which credit was found in Sancaktepe, has been laid. The work is already underway. We are talking about a mayor who comes and dumps debris there."

"HE HAS NOT KEPT HIS PROMISE REGARDING THE EARTHQUAKE"

I want to be happy with the happiness of Istanbulites. If you call and say, 'The opening of the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme train station is a situation that makes my people happy, and I want to share in that joy,' everyone will tell you 'come.' We have invited him to all ceremonies so far. Why hasn't he come? He was invited to Hagia Sophia; there was also a 'he called, he didn't call' issue there. What is the need for these polemics? If these polemics didn't exist, no one would be talking about him! When we look at the result, there is nothing. It is empty. Istanbul has serious problems. On March 31, our fellow Istanbulites will choose between a candidate who worries about earthquakes, transportation, and the future of Istanbul and wants to carry out those projects, having kept the promises made in the past, and a will that wants to carry different agendas—none of which are Istanbul—to the national level for 5 years. He has not kept his promise regarding the earthquake. He built 8 kilometers of metro. He built 5 thousand-odd houses, despite saying he would build 110 thousand. Why doesn't he talk about that? Why don't you talk about the hundreds of millions of money you spent and allocated for advertising? They have no data in their hands to talk about these. There is no work to show."

"WE ARE 1.5 POINTS AHEAD IN THE POLLS TODAY"

I conducted polls after becoming a candidate. We were 2.5-3 points behind. We announced our projects. We took the lead. Today we are 1-1.5 points ahead. These are the issues they cannot digest. Their panic is because of this. Murat Kurum takes the lead. If you turn your face to the problems of these people, the people will give you the answer. Because they see this, they are in a panic of 'what should we do.' There is nothing we cannot account for. Our conscience is clear. We have come out to solve Istanbul's problems. We have come out with the favor and desire of our nation. Polls were conducted before as well. Our nation wanted and desired us there too. Our President also appreciated it and nominated us. That enthusiasm and excitement continue to build up day by day in the organizations. We are intertwined with the citizens. One pulls our arm, another pulls our shirt, saying let's take a photo. One pulls a slogan out of their pocket."

"WE ARE SEEKING EVERYONE'S VOTE IN THIS LOCAL ELECTION"

They announced that the lady would be a candidate at first. Başak Demirtaş. She announced her candidacy. 3-5 days passed. Then an instruction came from somewhere, and she withdrew her candidacy. They said that Murat Bey was nominated within the framework of a co-presidency understanding with Meral Hanım. Then they said they would make a city consensus. They said they were in consensus in the municipalities. One of the so-called leaders in Qandil made a statement. He gave instructions from there openly, saying we are directing you to this alliance, you should vote for this alliance. We are going through such a process. Time will show where it will go. DEM is a party built on ideology. They make alliances in the districts, there are secret bargains behind closed doors, we don't know. Do you think the people of Istanbul, those living here, have such a concern? We are seeking everyone's vote in this local election. We are seeking the votes of all our fellow Istanbulites living here.

This includes Kurds, Laz, Circassians, Alevis, Zazas, whoever they are. We are seeking the votes of religious communities, the votes of minorities. We became candidates to carry out these services to make life easier for those living in Istanbul. Whether there is an alliance like this or that, or searches for dirty alliances, it does not concern us. We will win together with the Istanbulites on the evening of March 31, hopefully, to realize our dreams.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu recently announced that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure had invited him to the opening of the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme rail system and that he would attend this invitation.

Upon this, his rival Murat Kurum said that he had spoken with the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, that no such invitation had gone to İmamoğlu, and said, "Of course, we will go to the metro opening made by our Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and we will be with our fellow Istanbulites with great enthusiasm. Since the Mayor does not live in Istanbul, he makes up imaginary invitations for himself. I was with our Minister of Infrastructure and Transport yesterday. No invitation was extended to him."

On Saturday, February 24, in response to Kurum's statement, İmamoğlu replied, "Someone who lies about the EIA report is also lying about this issue. Is he happy that I wasn't invited? May God give him wisdom."

İmamoğlu, who attended the opening of the "Silivri Drinking Water Investments" together with the Republican People's Party (CHP) Silivri mayoral candidate Bora Balcıoğlu and later met with citizens, shared the invitation he received from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.