AKP's Eskişehir candidate Hatipoğlu's past remarks back in the spotlight

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced his party's mayoral candidates yesterday (January 7) at the Haliç Congress Center.

During the launch, where 26 provincial candidates were announced, Nebi Hatipoğlu, who joined the AKP after proposing an alliance with the party while he was still in the IYI Party, was named the AKP's candidate for the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality.

REMARKS MADE BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The remarks made by Hatipoğlu before the May 14 general elections, after he resigned from the IYI Party citing 'deep differences of opinion' and joined the AKP, have resurfaced.

During the program, journalist Hakkı Sağlam asked Nebi Hatipoğlu: “I am asking this for the record: Let's say the AK Party continues in power on the evening of May 14. President Erdoğan is re-elected. The IYI Party remains in the opposition. A strong industrialist like you being active in politics and remaining in the opposition might cause some difficulties. In such a situation, would you join the AK Party?”

HATİPOĞLU: I WOULD NOT JOIN THE AKP, WHY WOULD I?

Hatipoğlu responded to the question as follows:

"Even if the IYI Party remains in the opposition… No, of course I would not join the AKP, why would I?

There are two types of politicians in Turkey. Those who do politics as a business and those who do it as a service. We will do it as a service. I am entering politics to serve my country. I am in the IYI Party and we will continue as the IYI Party. But who knows what will happen in the future.

I would not join the AK Party, of course, but our party might form a coalition with another party… But that is not my business. It is up to the party's relevant boards. As an individual, I do not get off the vehicle I have boarded."

50 MILLION DOLLAR TRANSFER FEE ALLEGATION

IYI Party Bursa Deputy Hasan Toktaş had made an allegation regarding the company of Nebi Hatipoğlu, who resigned from the party to join the AKP, stating, “Hatipoğlu received his transfer fee in advance; this document is for 50 million dollars."

News Source: 12punto