Is Candan Yüceer switching to AKP? Statement from NEW Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre

While Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Candan Yüceer's resignation from NEW Party maintains its place on the political agenda, a remarkable statement came from her party.

NEW Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre answered journalists' questions at the press conference held at the party headquarters.

Evaluating Yüceer's reasons for resignation, Emre said that they had heard that the mayor was preparing to transition to AKP.

"THERE WAS NO AREA IN WHICH HE WAS UNJUSTICED"

Criticizing Candan Yüceer's statements regarding her resignation, Emre said:

"The statement he made is an excuse. The Provincial President said that he did not particularly want to be a congress delegate, that he was looking for it within this scope, and after the election, in his conversation with our Deputy Chairman of the Organization, Ensar Aytekin, he said, 'I wanted it this way. 16 congress delegates were being elected here, I wanted to make a sacrifice.'"

Emre also touched upon Yüceer's meetings with the party management before the congress and said:

"He came to our Chairman just a week ago, as a delegate to the congress, and made some suggestions regarding the congress. He had a request for the Presidency of the Council, and the Chairman said that he would evaluate it. Here, he served as a member of parliament for four terms in the party, and was nominated as a metropolitan candidate. There was no area where he was treated unfairly."

"THERE IS HEARING ABOUT SWITCHING TO AKP"

Claiming that Yüceer has not communicated with party executives in recent days, Emre argued that the resignation was planned in advance.

"It seemed that there was a preparation. Officials in the party had not been receiving phone calls for 5-6 days," said Emre and continued his words as follows:

"And again, the application made to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change regarding the appointment of the person who is currently the General Secretary of Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality by proxy, dated November 3, has been withdrawn. We also have a document regarding November 3, and the withdrawal process was applied on November 4, in line with this request. It is heard in the city that there is a preparation here, we have been hearing for a while. We also have a feeling about moving to the Justice and Development Party." "There is, because he has no contact with anyone, it is said that there is a preparation here."

"EITHER COME TO US AND GET FREE, OR PRISON"

Claiming that concerns about judicial processes may be behind Candan Yüceer's resignation, Emre also brought up allegations of pressure on local governments.

Emre shared his previous meetings with Yüceer and made the following statements:

"The truth of the matter is that there are rumors that there are some judicial harassments, that there are preparations, that there are some investigations and findings regarding the files, the Court of Accounts, and that there is concern about this issue. What is the prescription applied in local governments during this period: 'either come late or get out of prison'..."

"WHILE TELLING ME THIS PLAN, HE WILL PROBABLY PASS BY HIMSELF"

Claiming that Yüceer had previously talked about an arrest plan against him, Emre completed his statement as follows: