Kemal Okuyan responds to 'Kadıköy' criticisms: The issue is an anti-communist delusion

Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) General Secretary Kemal Okuyan was a guest on TELE1's Habere Doğru program, hosted by Zeynel Lüle.

Evaluating issues related to the local elections, Okuyan also responded to criticisms regarding Tunceli Mayor Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu's candidacy for mayor of Kadıköy.

"OUR PRIORITY WILL BE THE POOR LIVING IN KADIKÖY"

Okuyan said, "The Kadıköy candidacy was not our preference. We held a meeting afterward and it was announced. The issue is not Maçoğlu or anything else; the issue is an anti-communist delusion. They shouldn't take offense, but we are not going to ask for their permission. We will carry out an organized struggle everywhere in Turkey. Our priority will be the poor living in Kadıköy. We have no intention of making a revolution from Bağdat Avenue."

Highlights from Okuyan's statements are as follows:

"Our goal is to get a communist into local governments in Turkey and have them act as a kind of guardian. Here, we will guard the people's money and the people's interests. Ultimately, local governments use public resources. There is a huge economy circulating here. If there were no rent-seeking calculations here, a higher quality and more effective service would be provided to the public. It is possible to prevent certain things. These resources must be used for the people. We are assertive here. When we look at the municipalities in the hands of the ruling party, a lot of money has been transferred to Konya, but has it been made a livable city? No. Because a livable city is not just a city where investment is made. It is important for what purpose you make the investment."

"WE WILL DO OUR BEST FOR AN INDEPENDENT LEFT TO EMERGE"

We are not in this competition within the left. It is not possible for us to get anywhere if we gain superiority. The Turkish left cannot be anything without gaining its independence from the HDP and CHP. The left needs to gain clarity once and for all. We are not involved in bargaining. Communism in Turkey has to cut its own umbilical cord. We prefer this. It is everyone's preference. We will not enter such a path. We will do our best for an independent left to emerge.

Turkism, Ottomanism, Kurdish nationalism, Islamism; these also have intellectual dimensions. They are not things that can be reduced only to political parties. Unfortunately, the struggle here determines politics in Turkey. Polarization has nothing to add to Turkey. There is no good or bad nationalism. In the end, you are holding your own nation above other nations. Being a patriot is something else. It is wanting the best for your own country."

News Source: 12punto