Following the arrest of Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen on October 6 as part of an investigation conducted in Ankara, a deputy mayoral election was held in the Eyüpsultan Municipal Council.
The election was won in the fourth round by the YENİ Party-CHP candidate Cafer Parlak, who received 19 votes.
Making a statement after the election, CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Gürsel Tekin made harsh assessments regarding the process that took place in the council.
Tekin argued that the "national will" was being targeted in some districts through the balance of power in municipal councils.
Last night, 21 of our municipal council member friends gave each other their word of honor. They stated that they would act consistently. But as you would appreciate, it is very easy to pick out the black stones in rice, but very difficult to notice the white ones. Politics is the business of honorable, dignified people. Politics is a matter of stance. What conspiracies did our friends face? We will see in the coming days.
Stating that the result in Eyüpsultan was important for the CHP, Tekin said, "Despite all of this, the national will has manifested in Eyüpsultan thanks to the resistance of our friends." Saying that Cafer Parlak will be at the service of Eyüpsultan from now on, Tekin expressed that they, as a party, will stand by Parlak.
In his statement, Tekin also gave a message regarding internal party evaluation, saying, "We will also make our criticisms and self-criticisms, both internally and externally." Stating that the result of the election reflects the will of the Eyüpsultan voters, Tekin wished Parlak success.
News Source: 12punto
