İmamoğlu criticizes the election process: 'We are not surprised by this election either, it is not being conducted fairly'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor and CHP candidate for the new term, Ekrem İmamoğlu, met with citizens in Beyoğlu's Kasımpaşa district. Speaking at Kasımpaşa Kızılay Square, İmamoğlu toured the district alongside the CHP Eyüpsultan mayoral candidate, Dr. Mithat Bülent Özmen. The tour, which began in front of the Göktürk Atatürk bust, continued along Kemerburgaz Square, Alibeyköy Square, Namık Kemal Street, Sayayolu Street, Mustafa Kemal Boulevard, and Yeşilpınar Girne Street.

Moving from Eyüpsultan to Beyoğlu, İmamoğlu met with the public at Kasımpaşa Kızılay Square together with the CHP Beyoğlu mayoral candidate, İnan Güney.

RESPONSE TO KURUM: "WE ARE TEACHING HIM A LIFE LESSON"

Addressing the citizens, İmamoğlu said the following in summary:

“While coming here, this amateur candidate who hasn't done his homework said—and I actually liked it—‘Go run your meatball shop.’ You know, the one I had when I was 21. Now, do you know what the issue is? I wish he had also run a meatball shop at my age, at 21; he would have known what ground meat is, he would have known what meat is. He would have known how a greengrocer works, how lettuce and salad are prepared, and how dishes are washed. Because he doesn't know these things, because he hasn't learned about life, because he doesn't know life... We are actually teaching him the biggest life lesson of his life right now, all together. He is learning about life. He is learning about the retiree, the woman, the mother, the child. Because he doesn't know these things, he is in this situation today.

Politics is a journey of service. You provide service, service brings you together with people, service excites you with people. Later, you provide more service. But if the path of politics distances you—that is, while walking the streets of Kasımpaşa, instead of being able to walk with the citizens, it distances you from them—then that politics is of no use to me, and it is of no use to the citizens. I always say; those who distance themselves from their people, those who are far from their people, have no chance of serving the public, dear friends. Dear residents of Kasımpaşa, believe me, we want an equal, fair, and honorable election race. Let it be honorable. What is one side of Kasımpaşa? It is honor. Isn't that right, Mayor İnan? It is not known for anything else. It is bravery, it is honor. It protects the rights of spouses, friends, neighbors, and citizens. We also want an honorable race. This is a race where the decision-maker is the nation, and at the same time, it is a democratic one. That is how an election should be.”

"YOU DON'T FILM A CONSPIRACY"

You conduct campaigns to persuade the citizens. You explain yourself, you explain your projects. At the same time, if there are other matters you wish to express regarding your state and your nation, you explain those. You say, ‘I will work harder.’ You say, ‘I will provide you with better service.’ You say, ‘That is why you should choose me.’ That is how a campaign is conducted. You advertise your promises. You film a commercial. But for your promises. In other words, you don't film conspiracy videos to burn a bus or to film a bus while it is burning. You promote the services you have performed. Then you say; let the nation decide. It is that simple. Especially local elections, they are nothing like general elections. In those, the nation often looks at the mayoral candidate more than their party. If they are satisfied, they continue; if not, they choose someone new. Which I hope will be the case in Beyoğlu, and Mayor İnan will be elected. Unfortunately, they have polluted the election processes in Turkey. Every path has been considered permissible to win an election. Aren't they slandering? Aren't they setting up conspiracies? They do not stop the slanders and conspiracies.

We have been subjected to many lies and many slanders. We experienced this 5 years ago too, do you remember? When they saw that things were getting dangerous, they didn't leave anything unsaid about Ekrem. Remember; while I was breaking my first fast of Ramadan in Sultanbeyli, I learned at the iftar table that the election had been canceled. They took the election from us unfairly and unlawfully. Before and after the cancellation of that election, they lined up slanders one after another. Oh my God; they were one after another! The President, my opponent Mr. Binali Yıldırım, the ministers... Almost everyone. What did they say? They said, ‘They stole.’ They said, ‘Thief,’ they said, ‘thieves.’ Even one minister went on television and explained it quite seriously, exactly like this. He said, ‘We identified 700 terrorists at the ballot boxes.’ Do you remember? Where are the terrorists? Where are the thieves? Wouldn't at least one person be caught? Look; we are forgetting the easy things. Let us not forget these. There is not a single terrorist. Not one, not one thief. Not one fraudster. Well, what happened to those who said these things? What happened to those who made these slanders? Isn't it shameful? Isn't this a violation of the rights of others? We are in the month of Ramadan. Look; they filed so many lawsuits. Well, why wasn't a single person found guilty? I mean, at least one person would go to jail, right?

TOUCHED ON THE 'POLITICAL' SITUATION

Then remember what they said; ‘What we said was not legal, it was political.’ I mean, am I going to call someone a ‘thief’ politically right here? Is such a thing said to someone? It is not. Or someone will come to my face and say, ‘I called you a thief, but I meant it politically.’ Get out of here. Get out of here. Look, this cannot be. This is an immoral situation. Why are you doing this? To win the election! If I were to break the heart of even one of God's servants with lies and slander just to win an election, I would quit politics. I am against the mindset that puts lies, slander, politics, and partisanship at the forefront, my brother. I am against those who violate the rights of others. They violated the rights of others. Now I see that; this business of violating rights, this tape business, this conspiracy business has become a habit for them. Because they have started slanders in this election agenda as well. Are you aware; from morning to night, conspiracies continue, and during the holy month of Ramadan at that. They keep turning over the incident of the provincial building purchase from 4.5 years ago as if it happened yesterday... Look; they are this insidious. It happened 4.5 years ago. They keep turning it over as if it happened yesterday. They are trying to announce it to the nation as if it were a very secret matter. The statement of the seller is there, the statement of the buyer is clear. The nation has never given any credit to these conspiracies of yours anyway. They will not. That is why they are squirming and writhing. Does it befit the very head of the state to show these things?

Anyway, with your instructions, inspectors have been entering one door of the IMM and leaving through the other for 5 years. While leaving through the other, they enter from the other side. You scrutinized everything, you couldn't find anything on Ekrem İmamoğlu. We are a municipality that you have been auditing for 5 years. You couldn't find anything. There might be a stain on snow, but not on us. That is why I am telling you. These people will drown in their lies. Do you know what they are trying to cover up now, in their own minds? My retired mother is miserable, your retired brother is miserable; who cares? They don't care about this. 11 months ago in the election, did they say, ‘Interviews will be abolished’? Where? Where are the 11 months? You gave your word, you didn't do it. You don't care. Look, abolishing interviews is not something like we send a file to the Presidency and it doesn't get signed. Abolishing interviews happens as soon as you give the order. You will say, ‘I have abolished the interviews,’ and it will be abolished. The easiest job. Why don't you say it? Shall I tell you something? They have neglected their duties so much, they are trying to cover it up. Look, there is no need for many words. I am just saying this: They are being crushed under the weight of not keeping their word. Now, what will happen if they abolish the interviews? Will the children of this nation reach the positions they deserve with their own sweat? They don't abolish them to prevent that. They are afraid of that. But the entire family of the person who insults Atatürk is either a director, a department head, or a member of parliament in the institutions. Isn't that so?

"THE 4 MOST UNRELIABLE MEDIA OUTLETS..."

This nation is overwhelmed by the struggle for livelihood... You know they have their own television channels, right? All of them, how many of them are reporting on the high cost of living? There is no media on earth that has become this alienated from its nation. I mean, the press is the voice of the nation. They have their own press, you know, their own press. It is not the voice of the nation, it is a machine to deceive the nation. Look, the nation says, ‘The economy is bad,’ they are crying out; these people are beating around the bush. The order comes; ‘Do not mention the economy, the high cost of living. You just make empty chatter on television.’ They are of no use to the entire nation, let me tell you that. Look, they are of no use to you either. Yesterday, one of the world's most important news agencies published a report on media reliability in Turkey. Shall I tell you about it? Shall I list three of the four most unreliable media outlets? A Haber, Sabah, ATV. Were you surprised at all? Their reputation already comes from lies and slander. But there is one more institution on that list that will sadden us all, which also belongs to us. Do you know what that is? TRT. Yes. In a study conducted by an important organization in the world, TRT is among the 4 unreliable media outlets. That TRT is our property. But a man who has taken the lead; because he will flatter, because he will be partisan, because he will be a servant of politics, they are disgracing the institution that belongs to us. Can a public television be the most unreliable institution in its own country? If they had a little shame, if they were a little ashamed... But they are shameless, let me tell you. These people are shameless.

We are not surprised by this election either, it is not being conducted fairly. Dear friends, you will go to the ballot box in 10 days. Do you know what the vote you cast is? The vote you cast is the most important decision of the next 5 years. It will mortgage your 5 years. It is not just yours, the 5 years of your family, your loved ones, and your children are at stake. This is a very important decision. You need to think well. Actually, the essence of the matter is simple. That is why they want to make you forget the essence of the matter. They want you to be confused. They want to distract your attention. You know the essence of the matter better than anyone else. First; of course, choosing a mayor who solves the problems of the day, who is on the side of the poor, the needy, the child, the woman, the youth, who organizes the environment, who does not deal with the zoning rent of 3-5 people, and who defends the interests of the nation. Is that correct? Second, the main issue of today... Don't you worry about how much the cost of living will increase? How will the debts be paid? Look; don't you worry about how to give pocket money to your child, your grandchild? That is the essence of the matter. While you cannot spend even a single day in peace, as you wish, without calculating every 3 cents, what else should the citizen have? While the essence of the matter is this, their concern is something else.”

“THEIR CONCERN IS NOT YOUR STRUGGLE FOR LIVELIHOOD”

Their concern is not your struggle for livelihood. You will vote accordingly at the ballot box. Look; while you were struggling with the cost of living for 5 years, did you ever feel the government by your side? What did the government do? If it gave one, it took back ten. It ruined the economy. It brought inflation to triple digits. They are the ones who ruined the economy and created the high cost of living. Therefore, while you were struggling with the cost of living, we always tried to be by the side of the Istanbulites. We never left your side. We will never leave your side, we will never leave. And when we took office, because we felt your struggle for livelihood, while they didn't even mention it in 2019, we explained our social aids. To make your lives a little more comfortable, what did we do? We gave your money, that is, the nation's money, back to the nation.

We provided direct cash support to hundreds of thousands of needy households via Istanbulkart. We provided aid to hundreds of thousands of households such as marriage support, food support, and newborn support. We increased the production and sales points of Halk Ekmek to an unprecedented level. We distributed Halk Süt to 257 thousand children. We put an Anne Kart (Mother Card) in the pockets of 650 thousand mothers. We distributed scholarships to a total of 300 thousand students. They gave scholarships to 2 or 3 people, nepotistic scholarships. We distributed scholarships to 300 thousand of our young people, the children of the nation. We provided nutrition and education support to hundreds of thousands of our children. For the first time in IMM history, we built the nurseries. We built the dormitories. We opened the City Restaurants (Kent Lokantaları). We opened the Employment Offices. We alleviated the livelihood struggle of millions of Istanbulites. We will multiply this even more in the coming period. We have to give even more. Because they continue to ruin the economy. We will continue to distribute the nation's money to the nation, to give it to the nation. We will increase both the monetary amount and the number of our social supports. We will implement new supports.”

“What have they done for Kasımpaşa for 30 years? Wasn't Kasımpaşa their heart and soul? What did they do? Did Beyoğlu do anything? Did the IMM do anything? We did. Look; we are improving Kasımpaşa. We are bringing you together with the coast. We are building the coast. On one hand, we are coming here from Piyalepaşa. When you elect İnan Güney, we will make Kasımpaşa a diamond, a diamond. His family will also vote for İnan Güney in the next election. Who knows, maybe they will vote in this election too.

"WE ARE ONLY INDEBTED TO THE CITIZENS"

We have no business with two things. We have no business with waste, we have no business with betrayal. We have no debt of gratitude to anyone. We are only indebted to you. We are only indebted to the citizens. Look, my greatest effort is for these beautiful children... If I can be worthy of them and God does not embarrass me before them, that is enough for me. It is that clear. I am only thanking the 16 million conscientious, honorable Istanbulites. What will win on March 31? Honor will win, honor. Honor will win, conspiracy will lose. Lies will lose. Slander will lose. Those who do municipal work, not partisanship, will win. A handful of people will lose, 16 million Istanbulites will win. We will combine our votes and our power. Is Kasımpaşa ready to realize Istanbul's biggest, strongest meeting at the ballot box on March 31? Is Kasımpaşa ready to unite for the victory of Istanbul, for the victory of the Istanbulite, not for this or that party? Is Kasımpaşa ready for the alliance of 16 million Istanbulites, the alliance of the people, the populist alliance, not this or that alliance? Do you know what we will say on March 31 to those who want to turn back Istanbul's course, to those who want to make the order of waste and rent dominant again? We will say we have buried you in history, we have buried you in history. They will see once again that they cannot bend the nation's wrist. And they will kiss the hand they could not bend. That hand is the hand of the nation.”

News Source: 12punto