Passing the buck: Kurum's response to İmamoğlu's 'television program' invitation

Murat Kurum, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) mayoral candidate of the People's Alliance, formed by the AKP and MHP, met with members of the business, arts, and sports communities at the Producing Istanbul, Growing Turkey program held in Beşiktaş as part of his local election campaign.

Following the program, Kurum made statements to journalists regarding the current agenda.

In response to a reporter's question, "Would you appear on a TV program with Ekrem İmamoğlu?", Kurum replied:

"First of all, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Bey needs to see Istanbul. The call from those who do not see Istanbul to talk about Istanbul with us today is not a sincere call. If Istanbul's problems are to be discussed, if Istanbul is to be discussed, we are ready to talk about every project in every setting. But unfortunately, because the mentality on the other side is to carry different agendas into the present just as they did in the past 5 years, and because it is a scenario and chasing after that scenario, the perspective in this framework is not sincere. If we are going to talk about Istanbul's metro, if we are going to talk about Istanbul's urban transformation, if we are going to talk about Istanbul's future and its tomorrow, we are open to every conversation and every invitation. But first, he must show this sincerity. You will busy yourself with everything except Istanbul, you will follow all kinds of agendas outside of Istanbul, but when it comes to Istanbul, unfortunately, you will stay away from that situation. Then, saying 'I want to talk about these issues regarding Istanbul' is not a sincere invitation. Let him first show that he thinks about Istanbul. Let them show this sincerity with their projects, their stance, and their perspective for the sake of Istanbul's future and for the sake of solving these problems for our citizens, and then let them invite us."

POLL STATEMENT

Responding to a question about election polls, Kurum said: "The poll is always the field, the power of the field, the voice of the field. It is the emotion of the field. It is the desire and wish of the field to embrace you. Thank God, we are doing very well. Here, Mayor Ekrem is confused about what to do. The Republican People's Party mentality is confused about what to do. They cannot answer the question of whether they are forming an alliance. They don't say they did, they don't say they didn't. They are drifting like this. We are also ahead in the polls. Polling companies are sharing these. On March 31, we say: 'April will come, troubles will end. April will come, the faces of Istanbulites will smile.'"

EVASIVE RESPONSE TO KANAL İSTANBUL QUESTION

Kurum, who had said 'We will build Kanal Istanbul' during his time as minister, gave the following response to a journalist's question about Kanal Istanbul:

"In all the questions you have asked so far, there is either Kanal Istanbul or 'Ekrem Bey said this. What do you say?' Do you realize that you are not talking about Istanbul's problems? Despite our persistent statements that it will not be on our agenda regarding Istanbul's problems, you persistently keep saying Kanal Istanbul, Kanal Istanbul. I say if it is not on Istanbul's agenda, it is not on our agenda. Despite us saying this, you ask again. We say '53 thousand' for the death toll. You say 'You said 153 thousand'. No work that is not on Istanbul's agenda will be on our agenda. Clear. Our priority is the metro, earthquakes, the peace of our citizens, and the future of our youth. We see what is being done regarding the efforts to change the agenda with the tender held there. That panic is the panic of 'what can we do now to pull the agenda to a different place'. That plot of land is a plot we bought when I was the General Manager of Emlak Konut. It is a project we carried out there for THY personnel. This project has nothing to do with the canal. It is a job done there by the Emlak Konut General Directorate and our Turkish Airlines General Directorate for the purpose of our citizens acquiring housing. Therefore, our advice to you is to share in the happiness of our brothers and sisters who will buy houses there. This happiness is the happiness of us all. How will housing prices fall without building housing? How will our citizens get rid of earthquake anxiety without houses being built? This perspective is important. On March 31, we need to explain our service to our people, to our Istanbul. We need to explain how we should solve Istanbul's problems. We need to take care of Istanbul. Agendas outside of Istanbul are not things that benefit here."

WHAT DID İMAMOĞLU SAY?

Visiting Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Ali Koç today (March 1), IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu responded to the question, "Do you have an invitation for Murat Kurum?" as follows:

"When it comes to an invitation or a card for Mr. Kurum, he can sometimes give very complicated answers, but let me be clear. Of course, we have always been happy to be together, to talk, to share Istanbul, and to comment on Istanbul mutually. We have valued this. Of course, in a civilized country, in a civilized city, in Istanbul, the cradle of civilization, if there is a process and a race for Istanbul, I would certainly say 'yes' to such an environment. I would welcome it without hesitation. Of course, the environment and conditions for that would be discussed by technical people. For me, there is no side to be debated."