In the YENİ Party's primary in Istanbul, founding Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik was re-elected as provincial chair in a race where he ran as the sole candidate. According to unofficial results, 74,663 out of more than 133,000 members eligible to vote in Istanbul went to the polls. In the election, where 19 votes were declared invalid, Çelik received 74,644 votes.
Çelik, who followed the results at his party's Zeytinburnu District Headquarters, said in his statement after the election that the participation of the members was "very special and meaningful" to him. Recalling that he was previously elected provincial chair by the votes of delegates, Çelik stated that this time he came to office through the direct votes of the members.
Çelik conveyed that YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel had stated that, within the scope of the "new generation politics" approach, district chairs, provincial chairs, and the chairman would be determined by the votes of the members. Emphasizing that there was high participation in 39 districts in Istanbul, despite it being a rainy Sunday and a single-candidate election, Çelik thanked the members who trusted him.
Expressing that the election result places a significant responsibility on him, Çelik argued that Turkey is going through a difficult period. Stating that they will act with the responsibility of protecting the values of the Republic, strengthening democracy, and ensuring justice, Çelik expressed that they are on a "march to power" under the leadership of Chairman Özgür Özel and with the determination of Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom he referred to as a presidential candidate.
This result that emerged in Istanbul, meaning 74,663 people going to the polls on a Sunday in a single-candidate election, places a responsibility on us, and with this awareness of responsibility, we will not allow the ballot box to be kept from the nation.
In his statement, Çelik characterized the recent developments as "an effort to break the nation's hope in the ballot box." Bringing up allegations of pressure and censorship against the media, Çelik argued that the opposition is being kept within certain limits and said they would not allow this.
CALL FOR MEMBERSHIP
Stating that provincial chairs have been elected in 81 provinces of Turkey, Çelik congratulated the elected provincial chairs. Noting that the chairman will also be determined by the votes of the members in November, Çelik said that the number of members in Istanbul is approaching 160,000, and 133,000 of them were eligible to vote in this election.
Çelik concluded his statement with a call for membership to the people of Istanbul: "Come, determine your own chairman yourselves, and let us grow our struggle together with determination."
News Source: 12punto
