Resignation that shook Meral Akşener: 'I could have said she was the last friend to leave our party'

İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener made statements regarding her party's decision to enter the elections alone. Regarding the resignation of Istanbul MP Ayşe Sibel Yanıkömeroğlu, Akşener said, "I could have said that in my eyes, Ayşe Sibel was the last friend to leave our party. She came and became a founder for us under the conditions of that period when the party was being established. I respect her decision."

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Resignation that shook Meral Akşener: 'I could have said she was the last friend to leave our party'

Akşener said, "If we can explain ourselves correctly in this election, our voters desire to get rid of this gray atmosphere in Turkey. There is a need for a third option.

With the 14 'yes' and 35 'no' votes received by our General Administrative Board, we will strive to create a third, independent path," she said.

"THIS SYSTEM HAS INCREASED POLARIZATION"

Speaking at her party's Trabzon Provincial Headquarters, Akşener said the following:

"The 50 percent plus 1 system brought by this system has deepened polarization in Turkey much further. If we can succeed together in this election in creating an election language where the voters' troubles are discussed, projects are made based on the voters' demands, and competition is conducted entirely through services, the voters will win.

Since the 50 plus 1 requirement that emerged in the presidential election does not exist in local elections, at least in these elections, Turkey needs an election atmosphere where the troubles of Trabzon and what services can be provided by the municipality are discussed without saying 'you are this, you are that'.

"THERE IS A NEED FOR A THIRD OPTION"

In this election, if we can explain ourselves correctly, our voters desire to get rid of this gray atmosphere in Turkey. There is a need for a third option. With the 14 'yes' and 35 'no' votes received by our General Administrative Board, we will strive to create a third, independent path.

We will enter the election freely and independently. If we can explain ourselves correctly; I have been actively involved in politics for 30 years, and for the first time, we held a 9-hour meeting where GAB members addressed each other with arguments, trying to convince one another with arguments without fighting or insulting, which is rare for a political party.

It was a decision where democracy was fully applied and we all said we would abide by the outcome, a decision that my friends made among themselves, without me even making a hint as the chair. I am proud of all our friends who voted 'yes' or 'no' on this decision.

This is a first in Turkey. Our party has become a political party that believes in and practices democracy much more than political parties older than us, and surpasses older parties in terms of institutionalization."

"I COULD HAVE SAID SHE WAS THE LAST FRIEND TO LEAVE"

When asked about the resignation of Istanbul MP Ayşe Sibel Yanıkömeroğlu, Akşener said the following:

"I have never commented against anyone who left our party, including those who slandered or insulted me while leaving, nor have I engaged in any behavior that would upset or put them in a difficult position. I could have said that in my eyes, Ayşe Sibel was the last friend to leave our party. She came and became a founder for us under the conditions of that period when the party was being established. I respect her decision. When viewed through the lens of democracy, Ms. Yanıkömeroğlu may not like the decision taken, and I respect that too. I wish her success."

News Source: AA