The controversy that began with the resignation of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugayfrom the CHP to continue his duties as an independent, and his subsequent joining of the AKP, continues over the poll that was allegedly conducted during the candidacy process.
Following the statement by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the CHP Chairmanship via a nullity decision, that no such poll exists in the party archives, Tugay responded to the criticisms directed at him.
Speaking to journalist Sinan Burhan, who is close to the government, Tugay recalled his meetings with Kılıçdaroğlu during his mayoral terms and stated that no complaints had been raised against him.
TUGAY'S RESPONSE TO KILIÇDAROĞLU REGARDING 22 MEETINGS
According to the report onTv100, Tugay stated that he met with Kılıçdaroğlu 20 times during his term as Mayor of Karşıyaka, and that they met twice more after he was elected Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.
Stating that there were no complaints or criticisms directed at him during these meetings, Tugay used the following expressions:
"I met with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu 20 times during my term as Mayor of Karşıyaka. In none of these meetings did he make a complaint or criticize me. I also met with him twice after being elected Metropolitan Mayor. Even in these meetings, he did not complain about me once."
"WOULD THEY HAVE CRITICIZED ME THIS HARSHLY IF I HAD STAYED IN THE CHP?"
Reacting to Kılıçdaroğlu's statements, Tugay questioned whether he would have been subjected to the same criticism had he remained in the CHP.
Tugay said, "I am astonished by the statements made today. Would they have criticized me this harshly if I had stayed in the CHP?" he added.
HOW DID THE POLL CONTROVERSY START?
During the process of nominating Cemil Tugay for the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, it was announced that a poll had been conducted and that the results were influential in the candidate selection process. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, however, had stated that no such poll was conducted and that there were no polls in the party archives.
Kılıçdaroğlu had used the following expressions regarding the matter:
"They say, 'We conducted a poll, he came out first.' There is no such thing. There is no poll in the party's archives. We checked to see if there was anything regarding Mr. Cemil. Such polls are out of the question."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted to Kılıçdaroğlu's statement, saying, "I have never heard a lie in my life that I felt so ashamed of."
News Source: 12punto
