Claim: İmamoğlu viewed potential conflict as a risk

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel had stated during his party's Group Meeting that they would be in Taksim on May 1st Labor Day.

On the morning of May 1st, the crowd gathered in Saraçhane, which included party members as well as various associations, unions, and confederations, expected the CHP leader to march to Taksim despite the police barricades. However, CHP leader Özel, who arrived at the square with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, left the area after a brief statement.

These events brought the claim 'Did İmamoğlu and Özel clash?' to the agenda.

'İMAMOĞLU AND ÖZEL DID NOT CLASH'

Sözcü columnist Aytunç Erkin wrote that the claim in question is not true.

In his article, where he stated that he received information that İmamoğlu said, "A potential conflict situation could create an image of risk for the inclusivity of the CHP," Erkin also quoted his unnamed source, whom he referred to as "a friend who follows the corridors of Ankara and Istanbul," as follows:

"Özgür Özel also did not have a decision to march from Saraçhane and wanted to lay a wreath in Taksim with 1977 workers, but the ministry did not grant permission. As such, he joined the gathering in Saraçhane and then left the area. İmamoğlu and Özel did not clash."

News Source: 12punto