CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made striking statements regarding İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who moved to the AKP, during a program he attended on KRT TV.
Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he had conveyed his view to the then-CHP Chairman Özgür Özel that Tugay should not be nominated again.
Expressing that he found Tugay's work during his tenure as Mayor of Karşıyaka to be "inadequate," Kılıçdaroğlu noted that he had tasked friends within the party to investigate certain allegations. Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he had warned Özel about Tugay, whom he alleged had "gained millions of liras in advantages from a land sale."
Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he had shared issues that should have remained only between party leaders during his meeting with Özel, and criticized the fact that this information was passed on to the relevant mayors. Arguing that it was a mistake to later make Tugay the Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Kılıçdaroğlu said that "the people of İzmir paid the price" for this.
I do not want a CHP mayor involved in corruption. I want a mayor who serves the public and is accountable to the public. The door for those who engage in corruption is clear. If they want, they go to Özgür Bey's party; if they want, they go to the AK Party.
"İZMİR WAS THE STRONGHOLD OF THE CHP"
Kılıçdaroğlu also touched upon the political importance of İzmir for the CHP. Stating that "İzmir was the stronghold of the Republican People's Party," Kılıçdaroğlu said that the voters in the city are sensitive and criticize the CHP when necessary.
Directing criticism at the process of determining mayoral candidates, Kılıçdaroğlu reacted to the rhetoric of "we chose them with artificial intelligence." Kılıçdaroğlu asked, "Since when has artificial intelligence become the main actor in the selection of mayors?"
In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu also made assessments regarding some mayors who moved from the CHP to the AK Party. Arguing that some of these transitions were aimed at protection from corruption allegations, Kılıçdaroğlu claimed, "If you become an AK Party mayor, no one can touch you."
Speaking about Tunç Soyer as well, Kılıçdaroğlu said that the former Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is "in prison unjustly." Stating that he did not find it right for Tugay to report a mayor who had served before him, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "If there were concrete data, I wouldn't object; it is a pity, it is a sin."
Kılıçdaroğlu continued his speech by emphasizing morality in politics. Stating that "If a Law on Morality in Politics is not introduced, and as long as politics is not purified from corruption, Turkey will always experience a survival problem," Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that the principles of accountability and public interest should be taken as a basis in municipalities.
News Source: 12punto
