Yılmaz Büyükerşen runs for Eskişehir once again: 'I have never felt old'

Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Büyükerşen has announced his candidacy for Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor once again in the local elections.

Büyükerşen stated that the instruction he received from CHP leader Özgür Özel was behind his decision.

Responding to comments about his age, Büyükerşen said, "A person is as old as they feel. When the issue of age is brought up time and again, proverbs have come from many parts of Turkey. I have never felt old." 

Speaking to Sözcü, Büyükerşen noted the following:

"I AM ONE OF THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST VOTE PERCENTAGE"

“I entered politics in 1999. I won the elections for 5 terms with an increasing vote share. In the last election, my vote share was 52.8 percent, while our party's vote in Eskişehir generally fluctuates between 25 and 30 percent. I am one of those with the highest vote percentage among opposition parties in Turkey.

"I FILED MY CANDIDACY APPLICATION UPON INSTRUCTION"

“The day before yesterday, following the meeting our provincial head had with our chairman, I filed my candidacy application upon his instruction. When I spoke with our chairman earlier, he had said that the candidacies for metropolitan municipalities would continue with the incumbent mayors. I did not say ‘I will be’ or ‘I will not be.’ We only discussed the situation of Eskişehir in the election. Tepebaşı Mayor Ahmet Ataç and Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt also filed their candidacy applications from the same place upon the instruction from the chairman.

CRITICISM REGARDING AGE

“They are bringing up my age. I turned 86 on November 8. A person is as old as they feel. When the issue of age is brought up time and again, proverbs have come from many parts of Turkey. I have never felt old.

PROJECTS HE WANTS TO FINISH

"God gave me an opportunity, and I ensured the public duties I performed were sustainable. Sustainability meant one project was ending, and another project I started was saying ‘let’s finish that one too.’ There are some now as well. For example, I want to change the regulation on electrical energy production. Roof tiles are made from vegetable soils, and that soil is wasted. Actually, I am planning to have the roofs covered from top to bottom with solar collectors. I wanted to make a regulation change for this. The citizen's electricity will be cheaper, we will produce electricity, and I was perhaps going to make discounts on some issues to encourage those who do these. I want to provide incentives with the money I receive from the citizens.

“I wanted to take the tram to the place where the civil aviation school is at the airport. From there, the tram will be completed in the northern directions of the city. Tram transportation will be provided with a light rail system.”