Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Mayor Kasım Gülpınar resigns from his party

M. Kasım Gülpınar, who was elected Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality from the New Welfare Party in the March 31 local elections, has announced his resignation from the party.

'I WILL CONTINUE AS AN INDEPENDENT'

Speaking to TGRT following his resignation decision, Gülpınar stated, "I will continue my duty as an independent. There is no question of me joining another party at the moment. We asked the public, we came with the support of the public, and I am continuing my duty with the decision of the public."

Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar added the following in the continuation of his statement:

''Along with this, it has become necessary to carry out our services and work on the most appropriate ground for our people who have embraced us and spared no love for us to this day. Carrying the sacred trust of you, our valuable fellow citizens; as always, we have received your demands, we will continue to do so, and we will implement them in every decision we make.

With these facts, in order to put an end to the situations that occupy our agenda and to focus on better services for Şanlıurfa; we have decided to continue my duty as Metropolitan Mayor as an "Independent," without any political party, with the common opinion of our people.

I believe that an independent and unifying style of politics will be beneficial in order to put an end to the political quarrels that have occupied the Şanlıurfa agenda for a long time, and to allow for the discussion of services, investments, and the future of Urfa instead of political divisions and polarization.

The decision we have taken has been thought through to the finest detail and supported by the opinions of our people. I would like to thank our ancient city for supporting us and showing great favor in this regard, and I wish it to be auspicious."

ERBAKAN HAD SAID 'WE DO NOT DEEM IT PROBABLE'

On August 15, Fatih Erbakan gave the following response to the question of whether an offer had been made to Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Mayor Kasım Gülpınar and the claim that Murat Kurum had been tasked with this matter:

''Mr. Kasım is someone who meets with Murat Kurum as a family. It is probable that such offers exist. While operations are being carried out even against our district mayors, it is unthinkable that pressure would not be put on Gülpınar. We do not deem it probable that such a thing will happen.''

NO RESIGNATION HAS REACHED THE PARTY

Following the resignation announcement by Şanlıurfa Mayor Gülpınar, YRP Deputy Chairman Mehmet Altınöz announced that no resignation had reached the party yet.

News Source: 12punto