Governor's Office rejects CHP's request for march to Anıtkabir

The Ankara Governor's Office has announced that the event the CHP planned to hold in front of the 1st Parliament building on April 23 has not been approved.

In a statement issued by the Ankara Governor's Office, it was stated that the event would 'negatively affect traffic flow' and 'cause inconvenience to citizens.'

CHP Spokesperson Deniz Yücel had stated in his announcement, "On the day of the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, our Ankara rally will take place in front of the First Parliament. Our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, will address the people of Ankara and our nation from there. Afterward, we will march to Anıtkabir together with the citizens who participate."

CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said in a post, "I will watch this march for national sovereignty from prison; I will still be right by your side, I will walk with you. The Nation is Great."

STATEMENT FROM THE ANKARA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

The Ankara Governor's Office issued a statement regarding the requests made by the Republican People's Party (CHP) Ankara Provincial Presidency concerning the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day celebrations.

The written statement from the Ankara Governor's Office included the following:

"In order to inform the public correctly, the following statement has been deemed necessary. The Republican People's Party (CHP) Ankara Provincial Presidency, in its application dated 22.04.2025, stated that due to the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, they intended to lay a wreath at the Ulus Atatürk Monument at 15:30 on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, that CHP Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel would deliver a speech to party members and participants in front of the 1st TBMM building at 17:00, and that they subsequently wished to organize a march to Anıtkabir.

Due to the historical and cultural mission of the 1st TBMM building and its surroundings, it is anticipated that our people, especially students, will visit with high participation on the occasion of April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day; closing the area would prevent our people from visiting. Furthermore, because the requested location has a heavy traffic load, any meeting held there would disrupt traffic flow, negatively affecting the city's entire traffic and causing inconvenience to our citizens. Additionally, since the area where the meeting and protest march is requested is not among the areas determined and announced within the scope of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911, the request for an activity in the nature of a rally has not been deemed appropriate; it has been notified to the Provincial Presidency that if a request is made for one of the areas determined and announced by our Governor's Office in accordance with the procedure (e.g., Anadolu Square, Anıtpark, Seymenler City Square, Lale Square, Kalaba City Square, etc.), all kinds of assistance and convenience will be provided by our Governor's Office."

News Source: 12punto