Erdoğan Had Pinned Her Badge: Surprising Statement from Özlem Çerçioğlu Who 'Defected' to AKP
Özlem Çerçioğlu, the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor who switched to AKP after being elected with CHP votes, said following the pinning of her badge by Erdoğan: I do not have any badge; I will continue to act fairly and equally.
12punto
This browser does not support the video element.
Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu had joined the AKP by wearing an AKP badge at a ceremony also attended by President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, Çerçioğlu made a statement that would trigger a badge controversy, saying "I do not have any badge."
AKP DELEGATION PAYS "CONGRATULATORY" VISIT
Çerçioğlu was visited by AKP Aydın deputies Mustafa Savaş, Seda Sarıbaş, and Ömer Özmen, along with AKP MKYK Member Mehmet Umut Tuncer and the AKP Aydın Provincial Organization. Also present at the visit were Sultanhisar Mayor Osman Yıldırımkaya, Söke Mayor Mustafa İberya Arıkan, and Yenipazar Mayor Malik Ercan, all of whom had joined AKP after being elected on CHP tickets.
"I HAVE NO BADGE, I WILL ACT FAIRLY"
Despite having an AKP badge pinned on her by President Erdoğan, Çerçioğlu described herself as a neutral mayor, saying:
"As mayor, I do not have any badge. I have treated everyone fairly and equally, and I will continue to do so. My conscience is clear and my head is held high. No one should have any concerns about that. I am not afraid of anything either."