CHP statement on Zeydan Karalar: We will stand by our mayors who have an honorable stance

Regarding CHP mayors being tried on corruption allegations, CHP Deputy Chairman Cemal Canpolat said, "We know that they are innocent until a court makes a decision, and we will stand by them. But we cannot stand behind any corruption. Even if it is our own flesh and blood, if they are involved in corruption, the Republican People's Party is not there." Canpolat added, "Even if it is our own flesh and blood, if they are involved in corruption, the Republican People's Party is not there. But we will stand by and support our mayors like Zeydan Karalar, who have an honorable stance and are being unjustly tried."

In his assessment of those who have left the CHP, Canpolat pointed to the party's founding philosophy and historical values, stating that CHP cadres do not fight for personal interests, but for the independence and future of the country.

"There was no struggle for personal gain in this party"

Stating that personal interests were not considered in the founding of the CHP, Canpolat said:

"When the cadres of the Republican People's Party founded the Republican People's Party, they did not build the future of the Republican People's Party for anyone's personal gain or personal future. The reason for the founding of the Republican People's Party, its founding philosophy, emerged at a time when the country was occupied on all sides and international capital had placed liens on all the country's assets. These cadres, by fighting against that occupation alongside Mustafa Kemal and his friends, brought the seven great powers and international capital to their knees, abolished their courts, and abolished their tax offices. They established the full independence of this country."

Expressing that those who left the party and those who remained should be evaluated through historical values, Canpolat said that the cause and values of the CHP are above individuals.

"No one can remain in this party in exchange for bribery"

Canpolat noted the following regarding names associated with corruption and bribery allegations:

"No one can remain in this party in exchange for bribery. The values of the Republican People's Party, the values of Mustafa Kemal... We are the cadres of a party where everyone—Kurds, Turks, Alevis, Circassians, Greeks, and immigrants—stood shoulder to shoulder to establish independence in this country where thousands of people were martyred."

"We know they are innocent until a court makes a decision"

Emphasizing that the presumption of innocence applies to CHP mayors whose trials are ongoing, Canpolat continued his words as follows:

"We also know that those associated with corruption are innocent until a court makes a decision. We will stand by them. But we cannot stand behind any corruption. Even if it is our own flesh and blood, if they are involved in corruption, the Republican People's Party is not there. But we will stand by and support our mayors like Zeydan Karalar, who have an honorable stance and are being unjustly tried."

News Source: 12punto