'Will Watch' in Bakırköy: 'We Want a Mayor from Bakırköy'

A group of voters from Bakırköy announced that they will continue the protest they organized last week regarding the candidate to be determined in the upcoming local elections every Saturday under the name 'Will Watch' until a candidate is selected. Gathering at Freedom Square to voice their demands once again, the voters stated, "It is our most natural right to want a local mayor who has contributed to Bakırköy, is competent, visionary, upholds the values of Bakırköy, is familiar with its fabric, will protect public spaces, and most importantly, will listen to the voice of the people."

A group of voters from Bakırköy gathered at Freedom Square under the name of a 'will watch' following the 'Action for a Mayor from Bakırköy for Bakırköy'. 

Before the press statement, where banners and signs reading 'Change is Everywhere, Change is Local', 'Everything Will Be Very Beautiful with a Bakırköy Native', 'Bakırköy Has the Experience to Govern Itself', 'We Want a Mayor from Bakırköy, We Want a Mayor Who Has Contributed, We Want a Mayor Who Has Contributed' were displayed, Ümran Serhan, one of the rights defender activists from Bakırköy, said, "We do not want what is imposed on us; we want a candidate who satisfies us and represents the will of the people of Bakırköy." 

The following statements were made in the press release. 

BAKIRKÖY HAS REGRESSED

"Unfortunately, our Bakırköy has regressed a little more every day due to administrators who do not know the local area, do not know its streets, do not share its troubles, and do not recognize the spirit of being from Bakırköy. As Bakırköy voters committed to the principles of the Republic, we no longer want to choose what is imposed on us. 

We want to have a say in the decisions made regarding the future of Bakırköy, and we believe that those living in this district should have an effective say when these decisions are made. For this reason, as Bakırköy residents, we have come together to defend our right to establish our own administration and make our district a more livable place. 

Merit, experience, and local knowledge should be at the forefront in the administration of Bakırköy. Bakırköy should be governed by those from Bakırköy, and we must move forward with a mayor who has grown up intertwined with its labor and fabric. Having a candidate from Bakırköy in this election will increase sensitivity to the district's needs and contribute to the creation of fairer and locally-focused policies.

THIS IS OUR MOST NATURAL RIGHT

It is our most natural right to want a local mayor who has contributed to Bakırköy, is competent, visionary, upholds the values of Bakırköy, is familiar with its fabric, will protect public spaces, and most importantly, will listen to the voice of the people.

As Bakırköy residents, we emphasize our desire to determine our own future with this event, and we believe that the mayor who will govern our district should be a name who knows Bakırköy closely and is equipped with their labor and vision.

We, who were in the squares with the same demand last term to present it to the attention and evaluation of political parties and decision-makers, are tired of the impositions of those who do not listen to us.

A CANDIDATE FROM THE LOCAL, NOT FROM ABOVE

Our expectation is that the preferences of the public and party organizations are valued and taken into account when determining the candidate.

Our expectation is a mayoral candidate who will represent the local people with their vision, not from above, not from the bureaucracy.

Our expectation is a knowledgeable, experienced, and competent candidate who will heal the spirit of Bakırköy residents, renew its structure, protect their rights and laws, carry Bakırköy into the future, and increase its brand value.

Our expectation is a mayoral candidate who will prioritize service understanding and skill instead of ethnic origin or feudal relations.

In short, we want a knowledgeable, experienced, and competent Mayor Candidate embraced by the people..."

The Bakırköy voters, who also started a signature campaign, stated that they have seen great demand from the local people, and by stating that the entire district population is of the same opinion regarding a candidate from Bakırköy, they called out to the candidate selectors, saying, "Do what is necessary, or we know what to do."

News Source: 12punto