08.03.2025 16:51
The CHP's presidential candidate, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, kicked off the election campaign in Izmir, where he launched a fierce attack on the government with striking statements. İmamoğlu made a notable claim, stating, "They have seized the assets of some people I know and some I don't. They think I will be afraid. Hey, relevant person, I swear I won't disappear from your dreams. I challenge you."
```html
The CHP's presidential candidate, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, started his election campaign in Izmir. İmamoğlu, who rolled up his sleeves and took off his jacket, launched a fierce attack on the government with venomous words.
İMAMOĞLU KICKED OFF THE ELECTION IN İZMIR
İmamoğlu also brought up an interesting claim. He stated that the assets of people around him have been confiscated, saying: "Today, we are taking the first step of a new journey together. To succeed, we must first set out. We need to get on the road. We cannot change anything by standing still and complaining. We will stand up, we will walk towards our goal. And we will succeed together, growing wave by wave.
"THIS NATION WILL NEVER ACCEPT ENSLAVEMENT"
We will succeed together. My dear friends, our goal is clear. We are not only after winning the election but also regaining our unity and brotherhood as a nation. We are striving to be one heart in joy, sorrow, pain, and happiness. We will save this country from a handful of people who try to poison our common pains and joys with partisanship, who strive to stay in power by dividing our nation. They want to condemn us to an unequal and unjust order. But will this nation accept enslavement? This nation will never accept enslavement. This nation will never accept inequality and injustice. Dear people of Izmir, my dear friends, our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established this beautiful republic, which has equalized us all and set a goal for us: to rise above the level of contemporary civilization.
"THIS IS A CHALLENGE"
My dear friends, the will of the Republican People's Party is present in all the steps our country has taken towards republic, democracy, the rule of law, secularism, and the social state. We all experience how much these principles of republic, democracy, the rule of law, and secularism are in trouble today. The Republican People's Party will once again demonstrate its strength and will on March 23. The presidential candidate of our party will be determined by you, the votes of the members. Do you know what this is called? This is called a revolution of democracy, a revolution of democracy. You are making a revolution. You are making history. This is a challenge. Are we ready to take on the challenge on March 23?
My dear friends, the Republican People's Party challenges the politics shaped by the will of single leaders and narrow circles. We are republicans. Look, I say it boldly. We are republicans. We are democrats. According to our understanding, just as citizens are the owners of the country, my dear friends, members are the owners of the parties. Whatever they say is what happens. We are not like those who see themselves as the owners of the state and expect obedience from the state. According to our understanding, the nation is the master of the state. The nation is great. The nation is great.
"THE GOVERNMENT FEARS THE BALLOT"
Administrators must know their limits in front of citizens. My dear friends, the state serves its people, as I just said. It extends a hand of compassion to its people. It protects its people. It shows a smiling face to its people. The homeland, the homeland, and the nation are sacred for all of us. Those who govern the state should not have a frown, should not scare their citizens, should not threaten their citizens, should not intimidate their citizens. Therefore, administrators must know their limits in front of citizens. On March 23, we will spread this belief and confidence throughout the country. In the primary election we will hold, we will show the government the thing it fears the most. Do you know what the government fears, my dear friends? It fears the ballot, the ballot. What will we do? We will show them the thing the government fears the most, the ballot, on March 23.
Since the declaration of the republic, we will remember that it is not the elected who are superior, but those who elect. Everyone will see and understand that the seal is not with those who consider themselves sultans, but with the nation. It is with the nation. Therefore, my dear companions, my valuable comrades, every vote you cast in the primary election will demonstrate the value of democracy and national will and will shake those who flee from the ballot, will shake them to their core.
"THEY HAVE CONFISCATED THE ASSETS OF PEOPLE I KNOW AND DON'T KNOW"
The government has added a new page to its tyranny. They have confiscated the assets of some people I know and some I don't. I promise you, we will bring down the game they have set up. They think that if they seize the wealth of these people, we will be scared and run away. They think we will abandon our nation halfway. They think I will be left alone. Do you think you can leave me alone by confiscating the assets of 10-15 people? The nation is with me. These people are blinded; all they care about is the chair. That chair is not yours; that chair belongs to the Republic of Turkey, it is not the sultanate of a family. You, you who are involved. You cannot escape from the realities by burying your head in the sand. They think I will be afraid.
"BE BRAVE, BE HONEST"
Oh, you involved person, I swear I will not leave your dreams. I challenge you. I challenge you to lay out everything you have, but not with fake documents and secret witness statements, not like that with the mayors, my companions, my friends. Be brave, be honest. If you have an answer to my challenge, I am waiting. Or will you speak again by hiding in the rooms of the palace? Sorry, Erdoğan, the one who takes the horse has already crossed Üsküdar. Your time is over. It is over like this, it is over like that, your time is over.
"IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, I AM HERE"
If you are brave, if you are courageous, if you have even a little heart, you will respond to my challenge. I challenge you. I challenge you! If you have a problem, I am here, I am here. Come to me, do not go to anyone else. Can someone who has no doubt about their ablution have doubt about their prayer? The nation is waiting for the ballot here. I am right in front of you with my nation. Stop victimizing the nation, stop closing your traps, come to the nation, what do you want? What is this 'fool' case? The nation is laughing.
"YOU WANT TO ENTER THE ELECTION WITHOUT İMAMOĞLU"
Hey, I am addressing my nation. This person who is trying to annul my diploma after 35 years will tomorrow seize your 40-year and 50-year deeds, your cars, your money in the bank, just like my diploma. I am telling you all this today so that you understand well. Speak openly, what do you want? I know what you want, the nation knows what you want; you want us not to serve Istanbul and Turkey. You want to enter the election without Ekrem İmamoğlu. You are afraid, aren't you? You are afraid, afraid.
"THEY ARE VERY AFRAID OF ANOTHER BALLOT"
Can anyone be afraid of me! Does a person get scared when they see me! Who is afraid of me? Those who do wrong to the nation are afraid! You have done so much wrong to this nation that your fear is very great! Since 2014, I have one crime, just one crime: to be Ekrem İmamoğlu, who does not lose at the ballot box. This is the real crime they have found against us! You will not teach us defeat with these sentences! Just like I made you experience it four times, you will taste the fifth and final defeat and go home.
```
They are very scared that another ballot box will come, and they want to eliminate me because I will confront them in that ballot box.
"YOU WILL RECEIVE THE SLAP OF DEMOCRACY"
You will enter the election without Ekrem İmamoğlu. You will not recognize the will of the people, will you! You will receive the slap of democracy that you have never seen in history, and you will take your seat in response. That ballot box will come, and the people will send you home in that ballot box. If you have the courage, come face us, it's that clear! On March 23, first the CHP members will stand up, and then this wave of hope will grow.