IYI Party Spokesperson Kürşad Zorlu held a press conference on the agenda at the headquarters of his party today. Zorlu also answered the questions of journalists after the press conference and responded to the question about Mustafa Sandal's candidacy.
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Who will be the Istanbul candidate?
Asked about the claims that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly Member Suat Sarı will be the IYI Party's candidate for Istanbul in the local elections, Zorlu said, “Mr. Suat holds an important position in our party. He is the group spokesperson in Istanbul Metropolitan. However, our work continues both in Istanbul and Ankara, as in our other provinces. When the work reaches a mature stage, we will share them.”.
Which provinces will be surveyed?
Zorlu gave the following answer to the question of whether a survey will be conducted during the candidate selection process: “We are at the stage of establishing a commission on this. The main thing is to clarify our candidate in agreement with our organizations, our deputies in those provinces and our party members. But we have a tendency to conduct a survey in places where there are many candidate candidates. We will share with you which provinces these will be in the coming days.”
Mustafa Sandal's candidacy
Kürşad Zorlu responded to the question whether there was any development regarding the candidacy of singer Mustafa Sandal, who was previously suggested to be a mayoral candidate from the IYI Party, as follows:
“As far as I know, Mr. Mustafa Sandal was at a concert in Germany. We are working meticulously. We will have surprise candidates. The IYI Party's goal of overcoming this political jam with its own candidates and offering an alternative journey to our nation will hopefully be carried to a greater excitement. We will hopefully share those names with you in the coming days and weeks.
What happened?
On September 15, Sandal visited Akşener and it was claimed that he would be a presidential candidate from Istanbul's Beşiktaş district.
Sandal asked for time to think
Sandal, on the other hand, has not responded to the offer so far and asked Akşener for time to think.
IYI Party confirms the allegations
IYI Party Deputy Chairman Ahmet Zeki Üçok confirmed the backstage information and said, “Mr. Mustafa visited our chairman. These issues were discussed during the meeting. We would very much like him to be the candidate for Beşiktaş Mayor. Our presidency council will make the decision. I hope Mr. Sandal will be our Beşiktaş candidate. I will support him to the end.”.
He had visited Zorlu
Singer Mustafa Sandal shared the photo of imam Halil Konakçı, about whom the Presidency of Religious Affairs launched an investigation and who drew reaction with his words that those who do not want Sharia are infidels, on Twittter and said, “So now we are infidels. You provocateur dressed as a charlatan. This is the secular Republic of Turkey, which Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms established by shedding blood. It will remain so today, tomorrow and forever. Go on, my boy, go to another door, they won't eat it,” he said, reacting to Konakçı.
Mustafa Sandal, the precious artist of our country @iyiparti We hosted them at our Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/XRotNaCgkJ
- Prof.Dr.Kürşad ZORLU (@zorlu77) September 15, 2023
IYI Party Spokesperson and Ankara MP Kürşad Zorlu quoted Mustafa Sandal's post and said, “Dear Mustafa Sandal, thank you for your sensitivity. No matter where and whoever he is, he cannot extend his tongue to the founding leader of this country, the Republic and the values of the Turkish Nation! As the IYI Party, we have been following the issue from the very beginning. According to the information given to us today, the investigation against the person in question has reached the final stage. In addition to disciplinary punishment, it was stated that there is a decision to be replaced.”.