Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, said, “Serving Istanbul is really serving the world. Istanbul cannot be betrayed. Because this would be a betrayal not only to Turkey but also to humanity. When I first set out as the mayor of IBB, I promised all our people that I would be the most successful mayor of this sacred city. I will continue to keep this promise.”.
“I am setting out once again to defend Istanbul,” Imamoğlu said, “I am setting out to create a prosperous city, I am setting out to be home to all the technological innovations of the world. As in 2019, I am coming to establish the Istanbul alliance again in the strongest way with my fellow CHP comrades and my dear fellow Istanbulites who devote their hearts to different parties.’.
Address to Istanbul and Turkey https://t.co/JJ2KywgDqn
- Ekrem Imamoglu (@ekrem_imamoglu) August 15, 2023
The highlights of Imamoglu's statements are as follows:
* In July alone, after the elections, they have delivered the highest monthly inflation in 30 years. We must make it clear that the government cannot fight the inflation monster. The government created this inflation monster. After the election, the government raised diesel by 105 percent.
* While government officials frequently call on citizens to save money, the annual advertising expenditure of two public banks is 2 billion liras. Is it only citizens who are asked to save? No, it is not. In a geography where so much tax is collected, there should not be hunger, poverty and destitution. If there is, there is a huge waste, injustice and distribution problem. As a result of the government's economic choices, we see that the share of the richest 20 percent of the society in total income has increased. This year, this share reached 48 percent.
* In contrast, the share of the poorest 20 percent has fallen to 6 percent. The gap between rich and poor has increased 8 times. In short, this government continues to condemn our people to hunger while stuffing the pockets of the rich. In the past four years, IBB has become the symbol of the highest level of resistance against the oppression of the government. Saraçhane has turned into a strong democracy square against the unlawful election annulment and the hollow idiot lawsuit. We continued to work with high will without giving up and never giving up. We served the people of Istanbul.
“THE WINNER OF ISTANBUL WINS TURKEY, I ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO THIS SAYING”
* I must clearly state that after the May elections, the strongest opposition to the government's total liquidation of the opposition will take place in the metropolises of our country, especially in IBB. In the March 31, 2024 local elections, I invite all our citizens to walk together to protect our cities in order to regenerate our democracy.
* The winner of Istanbul wins Turkey. I attach great importance to this saying. Winning Istanbul in local elections is a great political success. The mayor who wins Istanbul has the honor of serving the most important city in the world. If that person wins the appreciation of the nation, this success will bring him to an important place in national and international politics. I do not perceive the phrase "the winner of Istanbul wins Turkey" only as an election victory.
* Real social peace in Turkey will only be realized when citizens are equal shareholders of their country's cities, waters, mountains and historical heritage without any discrimination. Solving Istanbul's problems means solving Turkey's problems. Undoubtedly, Istanbul is a city that has been neglected for a long time, a city teeming with gigantic problems. There is a population concentration in our city that has become impossible to tolerate. The influx of asylum seekers and refugees, encouraged by the government, is suffocating our city, from security to the housing crisis. Officially, our people are deeply and loudly complaining about this.
“I CONSIDER MYSELF SEALED WITH ISTANBUL”
* The cost of living has become a threat to social order. Citizen poverty has accelerated and deepened. It is precisely because of all this that the local elections to be held in May 2024 will be the choice to put a stop to this recklessness. Solving these gigantic problems of Istanbul is also a test of how to solve the problems of Turkey. For this very reason, as I understand it, ’winning Istanbul is winning Turkey‘. The fate of Istanbul and Turkey is sealed. I also consider myself sealed with Istanbul.
* In the new administration we have created in Istanbul, we are proving to our citizens here the possibility of a happier Turkey. We show that this great nation is not obliged to the rentier, impoverishing administration that betrays this city and turns our common home into a gray concrete pile.
* At this point, I would like to ask my citizens who follow us on various channels to pay close attention: I have been a candidate for a mission, not for a seat. Today, this mission is to bring Turkey to a new political and administrative understanding. My primary goal is to re-establish a bold democracy, justice, freedoms that will inspire our region and the world, the rule of law and a strong state in these lands.
‘EMPHASIS ON ’LEADERSHIP'
* The main pillars of our political vision are an inclusive, fair and sharing development emerging from the local level for the quality of life of citizens; uncompromising and effective measures against the environmental crisis and earthquakes to ensure the safety of our people's lives; a real welfare society for future generations and a creative-entrepreneurial technology move. In line with these goals, I emphasize a strong but democratic, active but supervised, bold but transparent leadership.
* Because I know that a courageous democracy can only be possible with a courageous society and courageous leaders. At no point in my life have I ever seen politics as nothing but political parties. Political parties are indispensable and important organs of democratic life. But as an executive who draws his strength from the local level, I have always understood politics as a transformative action carried out shoulder to shoulder with society. That is why, as in the past, my companions in the journey ahead are young people and women. Laborers and the precarious. Pensioners and the elderly. The disabled and the entrepreneurial and creative minds waiting to be discovered.
“I RAN FOR THE MISSION, NOT THE SEAT”
* Throughout my life, I have always been a candidate for a mission, not for a seat. Today, this mission is to bring Turkey to a new understanding of governance. My primary goal is to restore the rule of law and a strong state.
* We must protect IBB together. We must realize the cost of IBB in the hands of this government. They have tried and will continue to try to obtain IBB illegally. But we prevented them all together and they failed. We must continue to come together to win Istanbul together. We need to leave the discussions between us and focus on this process. I will do my best to establish a cross-party Istanbul alliance. I sincerely believe that the opposition parties will act with this awareness.
“I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ELECTORAL DEFEAT”
* In this process, I would like to address especially my fellow CHP members. Dear fellow members, I am deeply saddened by the disappointment we experienced in the May 2023 elections. I have expressed this on many occasions. I apologize to our people for this election defeat.
* One of the reasons for this disappointment is the lack of sensitivity in taking responsibility for the defeat and facing the reality. Starting from the night of May 28th, the attitude is far from understanding our party members and voters. There is no room for despair in my world.
“I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP MY PROMISE”
* Istanbul is one of the centers of the world. It is a sacred city that was the capital of three empires. Our ancestors left us a great cultural and natural heritage. Service to Istanbul is service to the world. Istanbul cannot be betrayed! Because that would be a betrayal not only of Turkey but also of humanity. When I became mayor, I promised all our people that I would be the most successful mayor of this sacred city. I will continue to keep this promise.
* As I conclude my speech, I would like to state the following: I am setting out to defend Istanbul once again against the looting of our city, injustice and environmental massacre. I am setting out to provide equal service to 16 million people, as I did for four years.
* I am setting out to create a prosperous city that uproots poverty; I am setting out to put participation and collective wisdom at the center, to be home to all the technological innovations and developments of the world.
* With this understanding, as in 2019, I am coming to establish the Istanbul Alliance again with my Republican People's Party comrades, with Istanbulites who devote their hearts to different parties, with Istanbul volunteers who protect their city and protect their vote.
Q&A: “I CONVEYED MY WISHES FOR CHANGE TO THE PRESIDENT 4 TIMES”
Ekrem İmamoğlu answered the questions of journalists after his statements.
Stating that he had conveyed his demands regarding the change and transformation process to President Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu four times, İmamoğlu said, “I have wishes for the change and transformation process. I have conveyed these wishes to our Mr. President four times, let me express it again. I still think that the President should lead the process of change and transformation and prepare a process that will enable our party to reach the future enthusiastically by renewing it with all its cadres. Let me convey this demand again.”.
“I WILL NOT BE PART OF A DEBATE OVER THE SEAT”
Imamoğlu continued his speech as follows:
“When I told my General President that change was necessary, I expressed the process without setting any conditions about myself. I said that I could coordinate this process, that I could run at the forefront, and then I said that I would not, could not, have a condition of general presidency. Listen to me from me that I have never appointed and defined myself over the office. I have never been part of a discussion over the seat, I will never be. My party knows that I will not be in 2019 either, and one of the people who knows this most closely is my esteemed General President.’
WILL HE SUPPORT ÖZGÜR ÖZEL AT THE CONGRESS?
İmamoğlu said, “Who will you support at the convention? Will Özgür Özel be your candidate?” Imamoğlu answered the following question:
I said I would fight at the highest level. I don't think it is right to talk about hypotheticals today. The CHP's congress date is not set. The process will mature. The congresses are going on right now. I am observing how the congresses, especially in Istanbul, are undergoing a transformation. Let me underline how responsible the statement I made at this critical stage is. I have wishes for the transformation process. I have conveyed these to Mr. Chairman four times at my own request and demand. I still think that Mr. Chairman should lead the process of change and transformation and prepare the process with the renewal of our party with all its cadres. CHP has sons who know its history and have a clean past. One of them is Özgür Özel because his name was mentioned. These will be discussed in time.
For 120 days, I have been expressing that the statements made on the occasion of the discussions on Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy for Istanbul are not correct. I respect those who produce political predictions and content. I am amazed at the point of view of people who spread this as if there was a conversation. Please follow me. In the 4 meetings I had with Mr. President, when I stated that a process of change and transformation was necessary, I did not stipulate any conditions about myself. I cannot have a condition such as the General Presidency. The party has boards and congresses. Although there are talks such as Ekrem İmamoğlu should stay in Istanbul, what will happen to Istanbul, I have never been appointed or defined over the office. My mission is the mission of the future of the country.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION?
Imamoğlu also explained the content of the call for ‘change’ he launched after the general elections with the following words:
“Let me state that it is not right to speak with assumptions today. Today, we don't even know if Mr. President is a candidate at the congress. Of course, we meet with our President on different occasions. We meet and of course we exchange messages. Our messages have been about the functioning of our municipality. He has not had any contact with me on political grounds. The issue of change and transformation is not and cannot be a content that comes from the tongue and mind of one person. We received over 200 thousand e-mails to the website we opened. The change and transformation of our party will be shaped in the most comprehensive way. It must be open to development, it must be innovative, it must be inclusive. It must be able to incorporate new ideas. I have my own ideas, I share them with the public from time to time.”
Imamoğlu said, “I would like to express that we are one of the most exemplary points of the consciousness of alliance consciousness of serving 16 million people in the most attentive way that really befits the ethics of alliance with the parties or political groups that we have allied with in our four and a half years of activities since then, especially with the İYİ Party in 2019.’.
“I DIDN'T SAY I WAS A CANDIDATE, I SAID I WAS ON MY WAY”
“Change is part of my mission. CHP cannot and should not lose elections anymore.” In response to the question ‘Are you a candidate?’, Imamoğlu said, “I am setting out to defend Istanbul once again. As in 2019, I am coming to establish an Istanbul Alliance again with my Republican People's Party friends and Istanbulites who are devoted to different parties. I did not say I am a candidate, I said I am setting out.