Last-minute AKP statement from Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Mayor Gülpınar: 'I received offers from every party'

Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, who was elected Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality as the candidate of the New Welfare Party (YRP) in the local elections and later resigned from his party, responded to the question, "Will you join the AKP?"

Responding to questions from Ciner Media Group Ankara Representative Fevzi Çakır on Habertürk TV, Gülpınar stated that there were institutional problems within the YRP, which led to his decision to resign.

Expressing his reaction to not being nominated by the AKP in the local elections, Gülpınar said, "What could be the reason for me being in the polls even though I had no such request? Because that is the demand coming from the public. I know I came out first in the polls. Our President personally stated this at the Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting and gave the directive, 'We will determine the candidates the people want and walk that path.' Despite this, it was not desired for me to be a candidate. I asked, 'Why not me?' and received no answer. The final answer given was, 'The deputies from Urfa do not want you.' There was nothing left for me to do anyway. If the political will of the people is to be ignored based on whether deputies want someone or not... If I entered this business because the people wanted it, when it wasn't even on my mind. In my opinion, only the President has the right to say 'Kasım Gülpınar' should not be in the AK Party," he said.

Gülpınar explained the reason for his resignation from the YRP with the following words:

"When I resigned, almost all parties stepped in and said, 'Be our candidate.' We chose the New Welfare Party because it is our origin and the platform where my father started his political career. I still hear it, unfortunately, it is being voiced at the highest level. 'Oh, an ambassadorship was promised.' They are trivializing the situation because they don't know Kasım Gülpınar. Even though I have said it many times. I am saying it again, I have received ambassadorship offers before and did not accept them. Why would I accept one now? There were various institutional problems in the New Welfare Party."

Stating that he had previously made statements that he would not join the AKP, Gülpınar said, "I will not be a candidate for mayor or deputy from Urfa again. I want to avoid making big claims, I say 'God willing' again. I made a big claim and said I wouldn't be mayor, look, I came and sat in the seat," he said.

'HE DENIED IT ONCE AGAIN'

Stating that many political parties other than the AKP have met with him, Gülpınar said he would continue his duty as an independent. Gülpınar said, "After becoming independent, I met with other parties as well. I won't name them. Many parties met with me directly or indirectly. There were meetings with me at the party leader level. If I wanted to switch, I would have. I don't want to do politics this way. I will not join the AK Party, nor the CHP, nor the IYI Party. I will remain independent. The public did not give their votes for me to join a party. All segments of society voted. No step can be taken without their opinion being sought. But I have bound myself with my words, that matter is closed," he said.

News Source: 12punto