First statement from Özgür Özel following Mansur Yavaş's resignation from CHP

Özgür Özel made a statement regarding Mansur Yavaş's decision to resign from the CHP. Yeni Parti Chairman Özgür Özel stated that he called Yavaş on the phone following the resignation decision.

Stating that they respect any decision that Yavaş and the mayors will make, Özgür Özel recalled that they did not invite the mayors to the party during the establishment phase of the Yeni Parti and said, "I had expressed that they were assigned to serve and that we would respect the decisions they would make. We are maintaining this stance."

Explaining that Yavaş stood in the right place during the absolute nullity process experienced in the CHP, Özel said, "From the moment the nullity decision was issued, Yavaş emphasized being elected in the careful sentences he constructed, objected to the design of politics through court decisions, and therefore stood on the right side of history; we also valued this."

The Chairman of the Yeni Parti, explaining that Mansur Yavaş's primary responsibility is Ankara, wished for the decision to be beneficial.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM CHP: IT FALLS TO US TO SAY MAY IT BE BENEFICIAL

Following the resignation decision of ABB Mayor Yavaş, consecutive statements were made by the CHP and the Yeni Parti. CHP Spokesperson Müslim Sarı said, "We would have preferred him to engage in politics within the CHP. It is his own decision. It falls to us to say may it be beneficial."

Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir made the statement on behalf of the Yeni Parti. Saying, "Mansur Yavaş is our mayor who, in my opinion, is honored by 86 million people, and who stands out with his services, honesty, and populist municipalism. It is his own discretion," Murat Emir said that Yavaş would make a statement himself if he felt the need.

CONSECUTIVE RESIGNATIONS FROM CHP

The mayors of Kalecik, Beypazarı, Güdül, Polatlı, Ayaş, Şereflikoçhisar, and Elmadağ announced that they have resigned from the party.

Kalecik Mayor Satılmış Karakoç, Beypazarı Mayor Özer Kasap, Güdül Mayor Mehmet Doğanay, Polatlı Mayor Mürsel Yıldızkaya, Ayaş Mayor İzzet Demircioğlu, Şereflikoçhisar Mayor Mustafa Koçak, and Elmadağ Mayor Barış Aşkın announced their decisions through written statements on their social media accounts.

HE HAD MADE A STATEMENT AFTER HIS MEETING WITH ERDOĞAN

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş had held a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Beştepe on September 9.

Stating that various comments were made regarding his political stance and the meetings he held, Yavaş had made a statement regarding his meeting with Erdoğan, saying that they discussed the problems of Ankara.

Stating that his duty is not to increase tension but to lower it as much as possible, Yavaş had said, "What we need today is to protect the ground where we can sit around the same table again when the time comes. I am also trying to protect that ground."

Addressing the CHP and Yeni Parti administrations, Yavaş had used the expressions, "If this stance of mine is seen as a cause for discomfort by the headquarters of both parties, I will not hesitate to do what is necessary."

WHAT DID MANSUR YAVAŞ SAY IN HIS RESIGNATION STATEMENT?

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yavaş announced his resignation decision with a social media statement.

Recalling the investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, where Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested, he said, "The process, which continues with many legal and political debates, has brought politics in Turkey to a point that we all follow with sadness."

"WHATEVER I SAID YESTERDAY, I AM AT THE SAME POINT TODAY"

Explaining that he has clearly expressed his thoughts and how a path should be followed throughout this process, Mansur Yavaş said, "I will not repeat these at length today. Whatever I said yesterday, I am at the same point today. There is nothing that has changed in my thoughts."

Explaining that he has not engaged in any behavior that would humiliate the CHP until today, Mansur Yavaş used the expressions, "We tried to show how municipalism can be done in Ankara without discrimination, transparently, accountably, and by using the public's money for the public again."

Anadolu Agency

In his statement, Yavaş expressed that they brought together millions of people from different views in Ankara.

"I WOULD CONSIDER SUCH A CLAIM AN ACT OF IMPUDENCE"

Stating that he will continue to carry the responsibility that falls upon him, Mansur Yavaş said, "I have never seen myself above political parties. I would consider such a claim an act of impudence. However, there is a very important truth that my duty as mayor has taught me: When unity cannot be achieved at the top of politics, the nation can achieve that unity at the base if it wants to. We achieved this in Ankara."

Saying that millions of people from different political views met around the same will in Ankara, Mansur Yavaş continued as follows:

"- I have always said this: If there is to be a change of government in Turkey through democratic means, the way to do this is not through the opposition consuming each other, but through coming side by side on common principles.

- For this reason, I have repeatedly stated that the debates that have been going on for months, especially the process carried out over absolute nullity, could lead to a deep division in the Republican People's Party and that this would harm not only the CHP but also the hope for democratic politics in Turkey.

- I had previously said that if there was any discomfort within the party regarding myself or the stance I followed, I would do what is necessary."

Anadolu Agency

In his statement, Yavaş stated that he would continue his path independently.

HE REMINDED OF HIS PREVIOUS STATEMENT AND RESIGNED

In the continuation of his statement, Mansur Yavaş pointed to the statements made today by CHP Spokesperson Müslim Sarı.

Yavaş, who said, "If there is discomfort, I will not hesitate to do what is necessary" after his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Beştepe, reminded of these words.

Saying, "I had previously said that if there was any discomfort within the party regarding myself or the stance I followed, I would do what is necessary," Yavaş used the expressions, "And due to some statements made today; I am leaving my Republican People's Party membership and I submit to the appreciation of the public that I am continuing my political path independently."

Mansur Yavaş continued his words as follows:

"- I will not disregard any of the friends I walked with yesterday today because of their political preference.

- I will owe a debt of gratitude for the rest of my life to everyone with whom I entered elections, struggled, stood by me during election campaigns, believed in me, and put their labor and heart into it under the CHP roof for three terms.

- My stance on another issue is extremely clear. Our citizens' trust in politics and politicians has been greatly damaged. We must seek the responsibility for this not in the voter, but in ourselves. When people go to the ballot box, they do not only vote for a name, but also for a political will.

- For this reason, I did not find it right to disregard the will of the voter and to move the offices obtained with their vote to political addresses that the voter did not approve of, and I do not find it right today either. Loyalty to the voter's will is the honor of politics."

Anadolu Agency

Mansur Yavaş said that all responsibility for the decision he made belongs to him.

EMPHASIS ON INDEPENDENCE

Whether Mansur Yavaş would join the Yeni Parti, founded by Özgür Özel and his friends, had been a subject of debate. Yavaş emphasized independence in his resignation statement.

Mansur Yavaş noted the following:

"- Moving that will to another place with personal calculations is not only a political mistake; it is a heavy liability towards the voter. For this reason, the meaning of my decision to continue my path independently today is also clear...

- From now on, as the Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality; I will continue to serve all residents of Ankara with the same understanding, regardless of which political view they hold, whether they voted for me or not. Because for me, the mayoralty is not a political career step, but a trust of the nation.

- Offices are temporary. Political conditions may change. But loyalty to the trust given to you by the nation does not change. Just as I have protected this trust until today, I will continue to protect it in the same way from now on. All responsibility for the decision I made today belongs to me. As for the appreciation, it is always, as it has always been, up to our noble nation."

HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE CHP 12 YEARS AGO

Mansur Yavaş became a member of the CHP 12 years ago.

He became the CHP's candidate for Ankara in the 2014 local elections. However, he finished the election in second place with 43.82 percent of the vote.

Mansur Yavaş, who was nominated as the CHP's candidate once again in 2019, won the election this time. In 2024, Yavaş, who was a candidate for the second time, was re-elected as mayor.

News Source: 12punto