According to Kılıçdaroğlu, İmamoğlu is not a political prisoner! 'Presidential candidacy is separate, these cases are separate'

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought back to the chairmanship following the court's "absolute nullity" decision regarding the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, made notable statements regarding the legal process of the imprisoned Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the split within the CHP.

Speaking to Euronews Turkish, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he does not view İmamoğlu as a "political prisoner," saying, "He is not a political prisoner; he is not a person who has been put inside because of his political views." However, Kılıçdaroğlu reiterated that he does not find İmamoğlu's imprisonment correct.

Arguing that İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy and the cases against him should be evaluated separately, Kılıçdaroğlu reminded that he voted for İmamoğlu during the CHP's candidate selection process. Kılıçdaroğlu used the expressions, "Presidential candidacy is separate. These cases are separate."

Regarding the judicial process, Kılıçdaroğlu also said that politicians should be ready to be held accountable. Referring to the corruption case in which İmamoğlu is being tried, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "A person must be ready to be held accountable everywhere and in every environment. They should say, 'I will account for every single penny.'"

HE DID NOT CLOSE THE DOOR TO COOPERATION

Kılıçdaroğlu did not close the door to the possibility of cooperation within the opposition if the legal obstacles before İmamoğlu are removed and he becomes a presidential candidate. Stating that İmamoğlu is in the New Party, Kılıçdaroğlu responded to the question of whether they would come together around a possible candidacy by saying, "For that, contact needs to be established. It needs to be discussed."

"HOW WILL YOU GET 51 PERCENT?"

Emphasizing that the opposition must act together to win the election, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Now, how will you get 51 percent? By cooperating. How will you get it without cooperating?" To the question of whether he is open to consultation and negotiation, he replied, "Always."

"IF ÖZGÜR BEY WISHES, OF COURSE WE WILL SIT DOWN"

Regarding the possibility of a meeting with Özgür Özel, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Our door is open to any kind of meeting based on morality." Stating that they could meet if Özel wishes, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Of course, if Özgür Bey wants to meet, of course we will sit down and talk."

INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS STAFF REGARDING THE NEW PARTY

Explaining his stance regarding the New Party founded by Özgür Özel and his colleagues who left the CHP, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he gave instructions to provincial chairs on this matter. Kılıçdaroğlu said, "I said, 'You will never, ever criticize. You will never, ever fight.' The place we will criticize is the government."

THE CONGRESS CASE AND THE SPLIT IN THE PARTY

Kılıçdaroğlu said that he is not a party to the case regarding the 38th Ordinary Congress. Stating, "I am not a party to this case. I am not the one who filed the lawsuit. I am not the one giving testimony. I am not involved in any part of this case," Kılıçdaroğlu noted that the development that made him suspicious was the court decision.

Stating that he had not previously heard any rumors regarding allegations that money was given or housing was provided during the congress process, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that the evidence would be presented to the court, not to him. Stating that the former administration returned to duty entirely following the court decision, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We also came to redo the 38th Congress."

Arguing that the split in the CHP did not lead to a major shift in the base, Kılıçdaroğlu nevertheless admitted that the division would cause a loss of power for the party. Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Did the party split in two? It did. Will this lead to a loss? It will. Will it experience a loss of power? Of course it will."

Kılıçdaroğlu also directed criticism at the policy followed after the 2024 local elections. Arguing that the call for an early election should have been made more strongly after the CHP emerged as the first party, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "If we became the first party, an early election call should have been made immediately."

Upon being reminded that the Özgür Özel administration later made early election calls, Kılıçdaroğlu said that merely giving a date was not enough. Kılıçdaroğlu argued that the budget should not be passed by Parliament to force the government into an election.

LEFT THE DOOR OPEN TO CANDIDACY: HOW WILL YOU REFUSE?

Responding to the question of whether he would be a candidate again in the upcoming congress, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the calendar was not yet clear. Upon the remark that he did not reject candidacy, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "If the delegate says, 'Let this person come to us and be the chairman.' How will you refuse?"

News Source: 12punto