Imamoğlu addressed CHP members with a photo of Atatürk from 1930, saying: "We should look at the citizens and each other in this way."

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu made important statements at the "International Unity Second Century Vision Workshop" organized by the Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Planning Agency, which will last for three days. Imamoğlu's reminder of Atatürk's photograph taken in Tokat in 1930 during his remarks on intra-party competition drew attention.

"WE MUST ORGANIZE OURSELVES"

Speaking at the workshop, İmamoğlu said, "Intra-party competition should be brotherly" and stated, "The first duty of the Republican People's Party, especially in our struggle in Turkey's transformation journey, is to remember that we need to start with ourselves." Here are the highlights from İmamoğlu's speech:

"We must face our shortcomings, mistakes, and organize ourselves in this sense. I believe that it is necessary to ensure that intra-party competition is brotherly and democratic under all circumstances. We are in a period where we are obliged to get rid of all the burdens that exhaust us individually, personally, and especially our party. Competition is the way to achieve better.

Competition, intra-party competition, is not about tripping each other while running side by side; it is a struggle to run faster. It is the means of integration, not separation. We see that intra-party competition can become exhausting in various CHP overseas organizations in different countries and cities. We also see that a divisive language can prevail. We know that it is necessary to see these and take precautions.

Of course, although there are very limited examples, we must be aware that we are going through a very sensitive and historical period and be able to speak together, negotiate, find the right path, and make common sense the definite compass on our table by staying away from all attitudes and behaviors that we know, see, and occasionally condemn at a high level. This includes a duty sensitivity that should be carried out by people who are patient, understand and know that they will convince people in this direction.

Therefore, I hope that this meeting and workshop will turn into a report where your common denominators are focused and the result is turned into a very strong form, in this campus where Istanbul Planning Agency is established, which has become the most beautiful part of this nature, this noble appearance, and which also bears the signature of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Because we believe that Atatürk wanted this place to turn into a planning agency and a hatchery center where we discuss the future of Istanbul, by opening it to the public, not serving a few individuals by afforesting and greening a large area behind, but turning it into a social structure.

"NEGOTIATION DOORS SHOULD BE WIDE OPEN"

We should not tolerate a single practice, a single word, or even a single look that is not worthy of our party. We must be able to look at people and each other just as Atatürk looked at the citizens in the photograph taken in Tokat, and we must be able to show the same sensitivity when we look at each other. We must not forget that communication and negotiation doors should be wide open to everyone and each other. Those who cannot do this have no chance of taking on these duties within the organization. It includes a duty sensitivity that requires patience and understanding and that will convince people in this direction.

Therefore, in this environment where technological opportunities shrink the world but distances between people grow due to wrong political understandings, I believe that the right politics is the politics that reduces emotional distances between people and establishes the strongest bridges of hearts between them. I care about the benefit that this positive understanding, this humanistic perspective, provides to societies as much as the benefit it provides to the world. It is a process that reduces wars, enhances peace, and embraces people with each other. I attach great importance to the understanding of the Republican People's Party in this respect. The most important concept of being a Republican People's Party member for me is to be a good person above all. After being a good person, we can achieve anything.

To love people, to take care of people; it is equivalent to loving nature, life, and everything. This is a perspective that overlaps with all our feelings, traditions, and perspectives. We should grow this circle of love by showing it to each other first and then spreading it to the areas where we work.

We must not forget that justice, equality, freedom, democracy, republic, and secularism, all the values we defend, essentially ignite the fact that we see everyone as ourselves. The feeling of empathy and putting oneself in the place of the other person, feeling and behaving accordingly. I wholeheartedly believe that when this feeling, this understanding, spreads to every corner of Anatolia, to all corners of the world, everything will be beautiful. There is no other way. I wish that the strongest report will come out of here under the leadership of our chairman and that we will be able to achieve the results that make us happy in the upcoming general elections together."