Mansur Yavaş criticizes his party during CHP congress! 'I don't want to create controversy, but...'

The Republican People's Party (CHP) bylaws congress continues on its second day.

During the congress, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu delivered speeches. Both figures drew attention to economic problems.

Following İmamoğlu, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş took the podium.

Yavaş expressed his frustration by stating that he was informed only an hour earlier that he would be speaking at the event.

"WE ARE ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE OF STRIFE"

Starting his speech with the words, "I don't want to create any controversy," Yavaş said, "I would have liked to give you a speech just like my Mayor Ekrem did. A prepared one, touching upon all of Turkey's problems and explaining my ideas on these issues, but unfortunately, they notified me by phone just an hour ago."

Noting that he did not suspect any malicious intent in the situation, Yavaş continued:

"If two mayors are being asked to speak in an institutional party, there is a problem. We are strongly opposed to the fire of strife that has been stoked for months—'Ekrem or Mansur?' We are 14 mayors. If you only have two of them speak, unfortunately, we end up adding fuel to the fire of strife."

ÖZEL: THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY IS MINE

Following these remarks by Yavaş, Özel took the floor and stated, "I do not separate the two of them from each other. (İmamoğlu) had requested to speak a few days ago within the planned margin. When those speeches extended to today, I said let's give Mayor Mansur a turn to speak as well; the entire responsibility here belongs to me."

İMAMOĞLU: IF I KNEW YOU WOULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE, I WOULD THROW MY PAPER ON THE GROUND

Subsequently taking the floor, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "I learned about it yesterday; I wasn't even aware that you would be speaking. In fact, when our esteemed Chairman said here that two of our mayors would speak, and you were right next to me, I didn't even know who would speak. I wondered if Yılmaz Büyükerşen would speak during Selin's speech. I wrote the final notes for my speech with your pen there. My Mayor, I call you both 'Mayor Mansur' and 'brother.' There will be no problem between us. If I knew you would be uncomfortable, I would throw my speech on the ground and sit in my seat, Mr. Mayor."

News Source: 12punto