Open support for İmamoğlu! 'Istanbul' resignation from IYI Party Deputy Chair Ece Güner

The wave of resignations in the IYI Party continues without slowing down. The process accelerated following the decision of the IYI Party's General Administrative Board (GIK).

Following the resignation of IYI Party Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Group Chair İbrahim Özkan from his position, Ahmet Zeki Üçok was also removed from his post.

Finally, IYI Party Deputy Chair and GIK member Ece Güner has resigned. In her resignation, Güner criticized the GIK decision and stated that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu should be supported in Istanbul.

Güner's statement is as follows:

"ISTANBUL IS THE HEART OF TURKEY"

Today is a very difficult day for me...

Before explaining the reason, I want to talk a little about Istanbul....

The loss of Istanbul is a national issue, a Republic issue, and a democracy issue. If Istanbul is lost: A dark "one-man system" where power intoxication has peaked and no obstacles remain will take hold. We will drift even further away from the values of the Republic.

The project to Middle-Easternize our country will grow even stronger.

Our nation will become even POORER, but will no longer have the morale or strength to change this situation: Our nation will disconnect from politics, and may even come to hate politics. That is the day democracy truly dies.

Istanbul is not just Istanbul: Istanbul is the heart of Turkey, where our people from every corner of Turkey meet; it is the summary of Turkey.

"WE MUST SUPPORT EKREM İMAMOĞLU"

If you think I am exaggerating, it is enough to ask yourself just this one question: Why is Mr. Erdoğan's only goal, his only dream, to win Istanbul back? Why, when he had won all of Turkey on May 28, did he say in his first speech, "We must win Istanbul back"?

In March 2019, Mr. İmamoğlu won the "first" election by a margin of only 14,000 votes: A difference of around 0.1% of the votes... One in a thousand... In this election, even a single vote will matter! The ruling power will focus all its strength on winning Istanbul: With all its "disproportionate" power. If we split the votes, the AK Party candidate will win. This is a concrete fact.

Therefore, my conscientious conviction is this; because he is the only candidate who can win (and a successful Metropolitan Mayor), we all—without wasting even a single vote—must support Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu in winning Istanbul back.

This is not a party issue;

THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

THIS IS A REPUBLIC ISSUE.

"I AM GRATEFUL TO AKŞENER"

Now let me come to why today is a difficult day for me...

I am a lawyer who has been fighting for the good of my country, for democracy, for the values of the Republic, and for Atatürk's principles for years. During the oppressive (State of Emergency) period of the referendum, I courageously fought against this "one-man system," spoke on dozens of programs, and wrote 4 books. I have always acted in accordance with my principles.

In the May 2023 elections, with the favor of Ms. Meral Akşener, I became a member of a political party (the IYI Party) for the first time in my life and was nominated as a parliamentary candidate from Istanbul.

I was the 4th candidate and was not elected. (I am not a Member of Parliament). When I was not elected as an MP, Ms. Meral Akşener appointed me as Deputy Chair. Since July 4, 2023, when I was appointed, I have tried to do useful work for her and our party as much as I could.

I met truly wonderful people in the IYI Party; as the Head of Social Policies, I met wonderful people working with good intentions and faith in our disability group, our deep poverty group, and our group for families of martyrs and veterans. My heart's eye opened even more to many realities of our country. I think I have become a more sensitive person than I was before July 4. My friends; I love you all and I will never forget what I learned from you!

I am grateful to Ms. Meral Akşener for giving me this opportunity.

CRITICIZED THE GIK DECISION

Starting with Ms. Meral Akşener,

to my dear Board member friends with whom I frequently worked, and some MP friends with whom I worked together, all IYI Party employees (from the security guards who opened the door for me with a smile in the morning, to the private office teams, assistants, and security teams), and all IYI Party volunteers; I thank you all very much, you always made me feel like I was in a "family."

My sadness is on a human level: Therefore, I sincerely hope that we remain friends. Please forgive me, and of course, I forgive you.

You will never hear a single negative word from me about Ms. Meral Akşener or the IYI Party.

However, I ask for your understanding. I did not enter politics for a title; I entered to save Turkey and the Turkish nation from this terrible impoverishment and authoritarianism. And my personal opinion is that the GIK decision dated December 4 is not the right decision for this purpose.

As you know, I fought for cooperation at least in Istanbul and Ankara, and I am one of the few people who took the floor strongly in that direction at the GIK meeting and fought courageously.

Thinking that I cannot defend the decision that was made, the only thing I can do is to respect it and resign.

I have been fighting against the "one-man system" for years.

As an independent lawyer, I will continue my fight for my country in line with my principles.