AKP member Cemil Tugay responded to the reactions as follows: 'I was literally declared a traitor, one would be ashamed'

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who was 'transferred' to AKP, responded to the reaction of the voters who voted for him in the election with interesting statements.

Tugay said, "Why did the people of Izmir vote for me? What did you vote for me to do? Not for me to be mayor? Am I trying to do something else? No. 'How can I be a better mayor, how can we solve more of Izmir's problems?' "I'm after this," he said.

"I HAVE NOT HEARD A SENTENCE FROM OUR PRESIDENT SAYING 'LET'S INTRODUCE A BAN'"

In an interview with Yeni Asır, which is close to the AKP, Tugay said, "There is a concern for change in public opinion and especially in social life. For example, what do you say to concerns that entertainment venues in Kordon will be closed or lifestyle will be interfered with?" In response to the question, "There are municipalities with AK Party all over Türkiye and people live their normal free lives in those cities. Turkey is already generally governed by the AK Party; if such bans were to come, they would come from the central government. What should the municipality stop? There is a polarization policy here that aims to scare people. I wish all the people of Izmir to face this reality."

Claiming that the people of Izmir have nothing to fear, Tugay said, "It will be two and a half years before people see this. During this process, I have not heard a single sentence from either our ministers, our President, or local AK Party politicians, saying 'Let's restrict Izmir's freedom on such and such an issue, let's impose a ban, let's prevent it'. Such a thing is not possible. Izmir will continue to live as Izmir. People will continue their lives as before. There will be only one thing different: It will now be much faster and faster." "They will see intensive municipal services, investments will come to the city, many works will be done," he said.

THIS IS HOW HE RESPONDED TO THE REACTIONS: PEOPLE ARE SHAMED

Commenting on the reactions against him as "an official lynching campaign is being carried out", Tugay did not refrain from answering with the following words: "I am constantly being smeared in the media and social media in such a terrible and systematic way. I was literally declared a 'traitor'; things like 'They invaded Izmir' are being said. A person is truly ashamed of saying these things."

HE CALLED TO THE PEOPLE OF IZMIRI: "WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR ME?"

AKP's Tugay asked the citizens of Izmir who reacted to him: "Why did the people of Izmir vote for me? What did you vote for me to do? Isn't it for me to be mayor? Am I trying to do something else? No. 'How can I be a better mayor, how can we solve more of Izmir's problems?' I'm after this. That's my only concern right now. I am a person who grew up in Izmir and carries the spirit of Izmir. My previous value judgments remain the same. I am someone who is loyal to his country, his nation, loves his people and is sensitive to people's problems. I have lived and worked until today without distinguishing anyone from another; "I will continue the same way from now on," he said.

"AK PARTY ALREADY RULES IZMIR"

While Tugay stated that the process he went through gave him the opportunity to look at politics differently, he said, "I realized that there has been a very serious polarization policy in Türkiye for a long time and people have been turned against each other. They say: "We cannot hand over Izmir to the AK Party." And I say to them: AK Party has been the government for 24 years. The government has already been ruling Izmir with its governor, district governor, police, national education, health and hundreds of institutions for 24 years."