İmamoğlu reveals his response to Mansur Yavaş's 'what if something happens to the candidate' remark

Participating in the program 'Az Önce Konuştum' (I Just Spoke) broadcast on Ekol TV, Ekrem İmamoğlu made important statements regarding the current agenda.

Here are his comments on the investigation launched against Vedat Milor and the presidential candidacy selection process:

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu criticized the investigation into 'covert advertising' launched against Vedat Milor, who visited the City Restaurants (Kent Lokantaları) and published a video, saying: "I have not met Vedat Milor. I called him and thanked him. This place is not a commercial enterprise; it is a service. A retiree who puts money into his grandchild's or child's pocket is eating a meal outside for 40 liras that he cannot eat for 250 liras. You put this forward as a rival and feel the need to intervene with anger. This is pathetic. I am a fan of Vedat Milor. I have watched him for years. My only connection is that he is a person I watch on television. He explains the value of providing this service in such days. Many people, from artists to writers, have talked about this. Shame on them. I have nothing else to say."

İmamoğlu's assessments regarding CHP initiating the primary election process for the Presidential candidate are as follows:

In this period, CHP is making a decision. CHP is carrying out a democratic revolution that will go down in the history of the Republic of Turkey. And it says: 'I will determine my candidate early. And while determining, I will do it through a primary election.'

"WE LOST THE ELECTIONS WITH THIS PERSPECTIVE"

If you look at the Supreme Election Council's (YSK) normal calendar, it becomes clear 50-something days before. At most 2 months. Our party says, 'Am I obliged to wait for the YSK's decision?' Let's go back to the 2018 general elections. Muharrem İnce's candidacy was announced 40-something days before. What can you explain in 40-something days? A different model of that day was put before us. Almost every party fielded its own chairman as a candidate, except for CHP. We lost the elections with this perspective.

WE HAD MANY SHORTCOMINGS

In the 2023 elections, the opposition developed a different method. 6 parties came together, an alliance was formed. Many discussions took place. We had many shortcomings and problems. The 6 parties showed our Chairman as the candidate. If I remember correctly, there were 50-something days left. As we went to the second round, we became 7 parties with the participation of the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi). We lost the election again.

THE GOVERNMENT SETS THE RULES

The government sets the rules. It sat us down with a Presidential system called the 2017 Constitution. There, ways of forming alliances with very different dynamics were formulated. The government is experiencing a process where this formulated mechanism is known by the one who made it, but wins the election until it is understood by the one watching it. We have been the losers for two elections.

"TURKEY'S ISSUES ARE HEAVIER THAN EVER"

Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "Turkey's issues are heavier than ever. Each one is as important as the other. NATO, US relations, Syria, Cyprus... All issues will be worked on. Staff will be placed for the peace of the country. Many problems were experienced with the mechanisms established with the leaders of 6 parties. In today's process, CHP is starting another era. It says primary election, I will determine the candidate early, our candidate will do their homework."

WHAT DID MANSUR YAVAŞ SAY AT THE MEETING

Speaking about the allegations that Mansur Yavaş will take a step regarding the Presidential candidacy, Ekrem İmamoğlu gave the following response:

We shared the details of the meeting we held. I said it several times. I said exactly what our esteemed Mayor, our valuable elder Mr. Mansur Yavaş expressed within a framework I respect: 'I find the determination of the Presidential candidate early, I am not against the primary election, but it should not be done today. I am not a candidate for such a process either. But of course, CHP's Presidential candidate is the candidate of all of us. I will never do anything that would harm my party's journey and its candidate.'

"CANDIDACY IS NOT ANYONE'S DEEDED PROPERTY"

That is his own opinion. These concepts are clear and valid for us. There is another matter. This was actually discussed: When our Mayor Mansur Yavaş expressed his concern by saying 'what if something happens to the candidate in this process, what if the candidate fails, what if the candidate falls short,' let me tell you what I stated very clearly... Candidacy is not anyone's deeded property... God forbid, it is not a divine command either. You can change the candidate until you officially submit it to the YSK. Something might happen to them, they might get sick, God forbid, anything can happen. Therefore, when that day comes, our party sits down and makes the most correct decision. Upon this sentence, they themselves said, 'Our party's candidate, our party's decision is never something to be discussed for us.' Whether there is a drawback to him repeating this opinion or not, that is his own discretion. I cannot say anything about that.

"WE BROKE THE GOVERNMENT'S GAME"

Today, our party has made a decision. The CHP TBMM group has signed this decision with a vast majority. 1 million 750 thousand of our members will vote. Meanwhile, attacks on Ekrem İmamoğlu are increasing. They will increase, of course. We broke the government's game. For this reason, our party members will come to the ballot box and vote, and they will support their party's candidate. Because every vote will strengthen their party's candidate, and every missing vote will strengthen the President's process. CHP members who are aware of this will definitely spend March 23rd like a festival of democracy.

"NONE OF HIS SENTENCES HURT ME"

None of Mr. Mansur Yavaş's sentences hurt me. The triple table where we talked face-to-face and made a joint decision concerns me. We have a good friendship. At the end of the day, I never remove from my notebook that we will make the most correct decision together again, that we will be together even in the most critical moment, that we are fellow travelers, that we are comrades in the cause.

DIPLOMA INVESTIGATION

He evaluated the allegations that his lateral transfer from Girne American University to Istanbul University in 1990 was irregular and the investigation launched, with these words:

The prosecutor said to me, 'How did you go from Trabzon to Cyprus?' Look at the question. I should have said I went by boat (taka).

"IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT I MET THE CONDITIONS"

I studied in Cyprus. A 17-year-old child goes there and applies. At 19, he sees the announcement of the 600-year-old Istanbul University. 'If you meet these conditions, I will take you to my school.' We go and apply. It is documented and known that we met the conditions. Some people don't have a diploma. I have a transcript. I have my school course grades. I have my documents, my photos.

If I called my school friends, I would hold a rally here. The nation is busy with my diploma. Why? Can we build a dam here, can we build a wall here, can we build a barrier here? Our lawyer friends worked on all our documents and presented them.

"WE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT"

We filed a criminal complaint against everyone who had a signature on that report written by YÖK. Because they are lying. Do you know what it means for a person who graduated in 1991 to be given this in 1993? You accept the courses of the school that person has been studying at for the past 4 years, since 1986 or 1987, and you give them equivalence. You are giving equivalence not just to the diploma, but to their past.

"WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF BOTH SOLUTION AND PEACE"

Speaking about the terror-free Turkey process, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "I would like to express that any foundation to be established by keeping the legal parts of this transparency away from the nation and the Parliament will be problematic. We are against this. But we are definitely on the side of the solution, peace, and the ending of terror."

"I CONVEYED MY DESIRE TO MEET TO DEVLET BAHÇELİ"

İmamoğlu conveyed that he requested an appointment from MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli with the words, "Let me convey my get-well wishes to Mr. Devlet Bahçeli from here as well. I conveyed my get-well wishes to them from the right point twice. I also conveyed my desire to meet if they are available. But we haven't been able to meet yet."

"A GENERAL DISCUSSION SHOULD BE HELD IN PARLIAMENT"

Continuing his assessment, İmamoğlu said, "The TBMM is the place where the nation is represented. And it is the board that should be the strongest on behalf of the nation. People elected by the nation. We have 600 deputies. Where these deputies are, a general discussion must definitely be held in Parliament. Even commissions should be established. These commissions should be able to carry this process to its strongest state within the Parliament through negotiations with political parties. Especially inclusivity is a very important concept."

The continuation of Ekrem İmamoğlu's statements regarding the terror-free Turkey process was as follows:

There are Kurds who have served in important positions during the Ottoman period as well. In the Republic of Turkey period, there are Presidents, Prime Ministers, ministers, and deputies. A Kurdish fellow traveler of mine said to me: 'As a Kurd in this country, I dream of the Presidency in this country. Let no one compare us to Kurds in other countries. I dream of every office in this country.'

"I CARE ABOUT THE PROCESS STARTED BY DEVLET BAHÇELİ"

I liked it so much... But we have shortcomings. Therefore, we must be able to build a model together where this country will not experience such a problem in the future. That is why I care about this process started by Devlet Bahçeli. I am following it carefully.

"IS THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN THE BALLOT BOX?"

But the silence of the government, the fact that it is watching the process... I say, my God... I wonder if its concern is the ballot box, the election, or something else?

"MY CONCERN IS THE BROTHERHOOD OF THIS COUNTRY"

But my concern is the brotherhood of this country. To see this issue and find a solution in a place that transcends politics and parties. This means the prosperity, peace, and good economy of this country. One thing: A Republic of Turkey state where the indivisible integrity of the homeland is protected, where everyone is happy and peaceful under our crescent-star flag, where the dignity of everyone's ethnic origin is gained at the highest level, and where all kinds of rights, laws, and freedoms are protected.

"IS THIS POLITICS?"

Ekrem İmamoğlu criticized the freezing of the assets of his close circle within the scope of an investigation with confidentiality; "There are people close to me who do business with the municipality or not. It's a shame!... Fabricated excuse. These people have had a commercial enterprise for 3 generations, there are reputable people. They have done their jobs. Their credit is high. Among them are those who employ 600-700 staff. Isn't it a shame? Is this it, politics? What is it: 'Let Ekrem İmamoğlu not be a rival to me.' The 8-year-old child at the table tells me this: 'Are they doing this to you so you won't be a rival?' Aren't you wasting yourself, your office, and your labor?"

'DUBIOUS CONGRESS' ALLEGATIONS

Ekrem İmamoğlu's statements evaluating the allegations of dubiousness in the CHP congress and the statements of former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu were as follows:

I did not hear that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu had a concrete expression called a dubiousness allegation. If I remember correctly: He made an implied expression like, 'There are allegations, these allegations should be answered.' I will never engage in a play on words over these sentences. After all, he is our former Chairman. I have respect and good feelings for him. In this sense, just as I have never discussed any member of my party on screen or in a public area until today, I never discuss my former Chairman either.

"THE CONGRESS IS AS CLEAN AS A DIAMOND"

The congress is as clean as a diamond. My first congress was 2010, the congress where Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu was elected Chairman. I know all the congresses held from that congress to today. Clean, orderly. Again, with the recommendation of Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, I became the chairman of the council of that congress. I am the first person to say that there should be a change on May 29th. I am the person who dominated this process. We came together with our Chairman Özgür Özel, we were arm in arm. He became our candidate for Chairman. We started the change process. He responded. We became the first party in the local elections after 50 years. We are moving towards winning the general election in an assertive way.

"THE COURTS DID NOT TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY"

We have taken such correct steps under these concepts that everyone applauded us in such a competitive environment. A year and a half has passed, and those who say it is dubious, those who file lawsuits... I do not take any of them seriously, and the courts did not take them seriously anyway.

INVESTIGATIONS AND POLITICAL BAN DISCUSSIONS

He responded to the investigations announced about Ekrem İmamoğlu, the possibility of a political ban, and the assessments that the process experienced accelerated the process of him being nominated by the CHP, with these words:

"I AM NOT A MAN WHO TREMBLES"

There is an environment where attacks are happening, but this is not new. I am a mayor who has undergone 1,200 investigations, inspections, and audits for 6 years. There is no such thing in history. I am not a man who trembles after undergoing 30-40 inspections. Which of our days was empty? All the means at our disposal were confiscated. I have experienced a process where they make statements about us every day, block our work, do not approve our work, constantly send inspectors, and constantly chase an accusation. I am not a man who will tremble over 2 incidents. What happened, we came to this day? We are setting up a game, it bothered them. We are talking from a place they don't know. How are we setting up a game? We are determining the candidate with a primary election. We are determining it early. They were doubly afraid.

News Source: 12punto