27.04.2025 19:51
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, responded to claims that negotiations were taking place regarding the presidential candidacy. Özel stated, "Not even Özgür Özel, but Ekrem İmamoğlu himself cannot withdraw from the presidential candidacy at this point."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated, "Not Özgür Özel, even Ekrem İmamoğlu himself cannot withdraw from the presidential candidacy after this time."
Özgür Özel visited Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested today in the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, in Silivri. After the visit, Özel made striking statements to the press.
RESPONDED TO ALLEGATIONS OF BARGAINING
In his statements here, Özel responded to allegations that there were negotiations for the presidential candidacy. In response to claims that "They are bargaining, they will promise that Ekrem İmamoğlu will not be a candidate for president in exchange for a non-custodial trial," Özel said, "Not Özgür Özel, even Ekrem İmamoğlu himself cannot withdraw from the presidential candidacy after this time."
"OUR CANDIDATE IS EKREM İMAMOĞLU"
Özel also stated: "15.5 million people voted for him. My 96-year-old mother, bent over with two canes, climbed the stairs to vote for him in Üsküdar. People voted for him in Şırnak, Edirne, Antalya, Burdur, and Isparta. A 104-year-old grandfather came. A woman came to vote with her three-month-old baby in her womb. Neither I, nor anyone else, nor he himself.
Our candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu, and if our nation deems it appropriate, he will hopefully be the next President of Turkey. That’s why we will not beg for freedom from Erdoğan to İmamoğlu in exchange for candidacy. If we were people of this politics, I wouldn’t be here today. What am I doing here? I would sit next to my child, my spouse, my mother, and my father. What are we doing here? Everyone should get their head straight. While making comments on television here and there, doing who knows what."