22.10.2026 19:03
Following his switch to the AK Party, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who visited the Izmir Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, said, "I did not reach this point for no reason." Tugay, who said he regards President Erdogan as one of the strongest politicians who have left their mark on the last 25 years, announced that he would get a tariff reduction through the Assembly that would make a noticeable difference in water bills, and that there would be no increase in public transport next year.
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Cemil Tugay said, "I see our President as one of the strongest, most experienced, and most valuable politicians Turkey has raised, and in particular one who has left his mark on the last 25 years. No one can say otherwise. This has come about through his work, his mind, and his ability, and I am sure that 100-200 years from now he will be remembered for the good things he has done and the services he has rendered to this country."
Tugay visited the Izmir Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen and met with the heads of tradesmen's chambers.
Speaking here, Tugay touched on the importance of tradesmen and said that tradesmen are among the groups that should be given the highest priority in cooperation processes.
Noting that people were curious about the change in him, Tugay stated that they had made significant changes to the work plan and that in the period ahead they had reviewed their plans and programs again with the aim of producing more services.
Tugay said, "As a person, the Cemil Tugay you know has not changed in any way, will not change, and it is not possible for him to change."
Expressing that he took office to produce solutions to people's problems, Tugay noted that during his time in office he had not been part of political polarization and that although disagreements had occurred from time to time, he had defended the issues he needed to defend as required by his duty.
I DID NOT REACH THIS POINT OUT OF NOWHERE
Stating that he had not reached this point out of nowhere, Tugay used the following expressions: "I have experienced certain things. I did not know in advance that they would turn out this way. When the political developments in our country made it impossible for me to fulfill my responsibility toward the city, I was forced to come to a crossroads."
EVERYONE IS FREE IN THEIR POLITICAL PREFERENCE
Noting that the hundreds of dreams he had built for Izmir had now turned into thousands, Tugay said that he had not previously had close dialogue with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and that in their meetings he had the opportunity to see Erdoğan's interest in Izmir up close.
Tugay made the assessment: "I see our President as one of the strongest, most experienced, and most valuable politicians Turkey has raised, and in particular one who has left his mark on the last 25 years. No one can say otherwise. This has come about through his work, his mind, and his ability, and I am sure that 100-200 years from now he will be remembered for the good things he has done and the services he has rendered to this country."
Expressing that everyone is free in their political preference and can vote for the candidate they want in future elections, Tugay stated that in Izmir it was necessary to move away from the influence of polarization and develop a more objective perspective instead of prejudices.
Noting that he thought those who found the opportunity for one-on-one dialogue with President Erdoğan could experience feelings similar to what he felt, Tugay said that Erdoğan was a hardworking, idealistic, and kind-hearted person who loved his country and cared for his people.
Stating that Erdoğan's making more visits to Izmir in the coming period could offer an opportunity to demonstrate this approach, Tugay reported that he had met with ministers and that they were carrying out work to produce rapid and lasting solutions to the city's chronic problems that had awaited solutions for many years.
DISCOUNT COMING ON WATER BILLS
Noting that they were working on a discount in water prices, Tugay used the following expressions: "I will pass through the upcoming Assembly a price and tariff reduction that will soon make a noticeable difference in water bills. After that, there will be more affordable water."
Noting that Izmir is the city with the cheapest public transport in Turkey, Tugay said, "Next year, again without making any increase to public transport, we will make it even cheaper, perhaps by diversifying the discounts, and we will again try to be useful to our people."
Noting that he would fight in Ankara for Izmir's problems that needed to be solved, Tugay added that the city could witness some developments in this period that it had not experienced before and that they needed to work for this.
Yalçın Ata, President of the Izmir Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, also expressed their satisfaction with the visit and stated that thousands of tradesmen took part in every stage of production and that they needed support to solve their problems.
Following the visit, the chamber heads conveyed the problems they were experiencing to Tugay.