04.02.2025 12:30
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) President Ekrem İmamoğlu responded to the words of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) President Mansur Yavaş, who said, "What are we going to discuss when the election date is not clear?" İmamoğlu stated, "Our esteemed President Mansur Yavaş may have a different perspective or opinion, but we can still talk. These are internal party matters."
The decision of the CHP to determine its presidential candidate through elections has faced an objection from Mansur Yavaş, the Mayor of Ankara, whose name has been mentioned among the candidates: "What are we going to discuss when the election date is not clear?" This objection from Yavaş was asked to another name mentioned for the presidential candidacy, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Mansur Yavaş answered journalists' questions regarding the CHP's decision to determine its presidential candidate. Yavaş stated, "What are we going to discuss when the election date is not clear? Until then, conditions in Turkey, everything may change. I believe that, with the economic difficulties as a priority, society should not be dealing with this. We should focus on deep poverty."
"THE DAY WILL COME, THE HARVEST WILL COME"
In response to a journalist's question, "Does it mean you won't be a candidate if there is a primary election?" Yavaş replied, "Could such a thing happen? I just find the candidacy premature. The day will come, the harvest will come. Until that day, who will remain... First, let an election date be set."
There was curiosity about what Ekrem İmamoğlu would say regarding Yavaş's statements. İmamoğlu said, "Honestly, the trend that our party has put forward is the date of the inclination. This is a democratic revolution. For the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the people are striving to express their inclination to choose their party's candidate by going to the polls. Decisions are being made regarding this. I wholeheartedly support this democratic revolution."
"THESE ARE INTERNAL PARTY MATTERS"
Expressing that Yavaş's perspective may differ, İmamoğlu stated, "Our esteemed President Mansur Yavaş may have a different view or opinion, but we still talk. These are internal party matters. We will find the best solution, we will find the right path. We will define a process where all our hands are raised together. We must define it. I place this issue far beyond the matter of this, that, or the other, as I said, we are on the verge of a beginning where our nation should hopefully see the next 20-25 years."
"IN THAT SENSE, WE WILL MEET AND UNITE OUR IDEAS"
İmamoğlu continued his remarks as follows:
Otherwise, the hopelessness of our nation will not only lead to economic losses but also to the loss of this country's human resources and the loss of the future, the missed opportunities, and I imagine an environment where all our hands are raised together, knowing that being a country that misses the train while the world changes will lead us all into great despair. This is a situation beyond positioning. In that sense, we will meet, unite, and combine our ideas, and we will walk towards power very strongly, do not worry.
Responding to President Erdoğan's words about early elections, "The opposition's flawed agendas are not important," İmamoğlu stated, "Our agenda is the people's agenda. Honestly, the great test of the people with the economy, both the situation of retirees and the situation of minimum wage earners."
"IF WE TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, WE CAN MAKE A LIST IN HALF AN HOUR"
İmamoğlu continued his remarks:
This country has many problems. I mean, if we just talk about the economy, we can make a list in half an hour. If we talk about the problems of local governments, pages would fill up. Should we start with education? Or from the judiciary, where we have become victims of great injustice and unlawfulness? Should we talk about the justice system? Or should we discuss the order established by politics regarding the politicization of the judiciary, the current government? Should we talk about the words of the President, who implies that he knows the content of a file, even its outcome, while there is a confidentiality order in ongoing judicial processes, saying "The big turnip is in the bag"?
"SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT THE UNCONTROLLABLE INFLATION?"
Should we talk about the uncontrollable inflation? All these issues are on the people's agenda. None of them are artificial; they are all real. But I can express one thing, their realities are in their own living spaces.
"THEY HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH THE PEOPLE. THEY CANNOT GO TO THE MARKET"
They may see the people's agenda as artificial. Because they have no connection left to establish with the real agenda of the people. They have absolutely no opportunity to hear all these cries, the complaints of the people. Because they cannot go to the market, they cannot go out on the street. I will go to the market again today. I went two days ago, I went four days ago. I listen to our people there. Do they have a single image? Go out and see. You are media members here. Dig into your archives, scan the agencies. Is there an image, a video, or a photo of the current government in the markets where this nation is facing its greatest test? You can call them mayors, you can call them members of parliament, you can list other positions as well. In that respect, our issue is the needs of our nation. Today, I am not saying this; our nation is expressing the cries and calls of "Enough already!" everywhere we meet. Honestly, it is our nation that demands early elections. They are also conveying that this government cannot be a solution. We are also voicing this, we are expressing our complaints. In this sense, early elections are the demand of the people. The people are great. In this sense, we will follow up on this demand. We will continue to renew and reiterate our request.