Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who has been detained since last April, announced that he resigned from his membership in the Republican People's Party.
Regarding the reason for his decision to resign, Mustafa Bozbey said, "For years, even most of my life, I have been engaged in politics by believing and struggling within the Republican People's Party. However, today, I believe that an environment where the evaluations about me are discussed publicly by the party executives is not right for the safety of the ongoing legal process. I do not find it right to be a part of these discussions and accept this approach while the legal process against me continues within a political structure to which I have spent years. For this reason, I have decided to resign from my membership in the Republican People's Party."
Continuing his statement, Bozbey emphasized, "I do not want this legal process against me, which is based on slander and lies, to be overshadowed by any political calculations. I see this decision not as a political maneuver, but as a responsibility that I believe is right in the circumstances I am in."
REPUBLIC ASKED: IT WILL REMAIN INDEPENDENT
It was a matter of curiosity how Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Bozbey would continue his political journey after his resignation. According to the information obtained by Cumhuriyet, Mustafa Bozbey will continue his path independently for a while.
Bozbey's full statement shared on his social media account is as follows:
"TO THE PUBLIC AND TO MY CITIZENS OF BURSA
Some decisions are taken with conscience and a sense of responsibility, not with political calculations.
Today, I would like to share such a decision with the public.
I worked in politics under the umbrella of the Republican People's Party for a significant part of my life. I walked and fought with very valuable people in this party and took on important responsibilities for Bursa. It is impossible for me to ignore the efforts I made as a member of the CHP, my companions with whom I fought, and our past.
However, at the point we have reached today, while the legal process against me continues, I do not find it right that my political identity should become a part of this process.
I do not accept the accusations against me. I believe that truth and justice will emerge before the law, regardless of political considerations. My fellow citizens from Bursa know very clearly why I have been subjected to these accusations.
However, the fact that a person's trust relationship with the political structure to which he is a member becomes a matter of discussion during his most difficult times has made it necessary for me to make an important evaluation.
For years, in fact most of my life, I have been engaged in politics within the Republican People's Party, believing and struggling. However, today, I believe that an environment where evaluations about me are discussed publicly by party leaders is not right for the safety of the ongoing legal process. I do not find it right to be a part of these discussions and accept this approach while the legal process against me continues within a political structure to which I have devoted many years.
For this reason, I decided to resign from my membership in the Republican People's Party.
I would especially like to underline this decision:
I do not want this legal process against me, which is based on slander and lies, to be overshadowed by any political calculations.
I see this decision not as a political maneuver, but as a responsibility that I believe is right under the circumstances.
And this decision has a much more important dimension for me:
Bursa.
For me, Bursa is not just a city that I manage. Bursa is the center of my life, my life and my understanding of politics. The will of my fellow citizens from Bursa at the ballot box is above all political considerations for me.
As someone who has never alienated anyone throughout his life, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality is, for me, primarily a trust of the will of the people of Bursa put forward at the ballot box.
Beyond the political identity with which I am remembered today, I am aware of the responsibility I bear towards Bursa and my fellow citizens of Bursa.
I will continue to defend myself before the law.
For me, institutional transparency, accountability and participation are very important.
I have been accountable for the services I have provided and every step I have taken so far, and I will continue to do so. My head is high, my forehead is open, I have no account that cannot be paid.
My love is Bursa.
My love is to serve the people of Bursa.
My guarantee is the law.
My responsibility is my fellow citizens of Bursa.
And it is my belief that the truth will come out sooner or later.
Because I believe that the noise of politics will calm down one day; What remains is facts, documents and justice.”
