Within the scope of urban reconciliation, IBB DEM Party council members who were elected from CHP lists in the March 31, 2024 elections returned to their party. DEM Party group was established in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
DEM Party Istanbul Provincial Co-Chair Arife Çınar also held a press conference with the council members at her party's Istanbul Provincial Headquarters.
Emphasizing the strategy determined in the local elections, Çınar said:
"This strategy was urban reconciliation, and within the scope of urban reconciliation, it was a strategy that was based on differences, covering all peoples and professions, and brought the opposition political parties together. It had important results. It actually demonstrated that the opposition in Turkey would come together, side by side, and strengthen local democracy and democracy. In this respect, it was very important and common candidates were put forward. At the same time, the CHP candidate was also supported, and our people voted for these candidates, and it was important in Istanbul and other western cities of Turkey, metropolitan cities and cities." Gains were achieved. In fact, it was a model in Turkey. In this respect, it was very important. The strengthening of local democracy, the expression of women, people, and different identities in their own localities, was actually local democracy itself. It created a basis to grow and develop democratic municipalism. Our friends and municipal council members carried out important works within the scope of this urban reconciliation, and with a decision we made, our DEM Party municipal council members formed their own group."
“WE ARE SIDE BY SIDE AS A WHOLE”
From now on, each of our colleagues in the DEM Party will continue their work in DEM Party seats and also in areas that will expand democratic politics, strengthen local democracy and enable meeting with different segments, social segments and women. In this respect, this meeting is very important for us. Of course, it doesn't mean that. A principled stance has been demonstrated in the activities carried out so far. In the operations carried out against municipalities, a stance was taken against anti-democratic practices both as a party and through our municipal council members. From now on, our friends will continue their processes with a method that is based on consensus, in which we can carry out democratic politics on our own principles and carry out local democracy. "We would especially like to thank our friends who have worked as municipal council members so far, and now we stand together as a whole."
“WE MOVED TO OUR OWN PARTY”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council member Gülşen Kal Uzunyayla said, “As 48 council members, we were elected on the CHP lists within the scope of urban reconciliation in the 31 March elections. After that we moved on to our own party. We will continue our future work in our own party. "As the voice of women, young people and all different identities, we will carry out our work in this manner from now on," he said.
“WE ARE THE PARTY THAT DEFENDS DEMOCRATIC POLITICS”
After the statements, Arife Çınar answered the journalists' questions. Regarding the possible IMM Presidency election, “Is your road map ready in such a situation? To the question "Would you support a candidate or nominate your own candidate?" Çınar said, "We are a political party that has always defended democratic politics and opposed anti-democratic practices since the past. "In case an anti-democratic practice takes place through the municipality, we will have demonstrated our stance based on our own principles, on the basis of consensus and solidarity."
“URBAN CONCEPTION CONTINUES”
When asked whether the urban reconciliation is over or not, Çınar said, “It does not mean that the urban reconciliation is over. However, for a long time, we have actually been working with our own political party in localities and municipalities under the name of our own party. This period has been extended due to the problems, operations and anti-democratic practices, but it does not mean this. Urban reconciliation actually continues. "This urban consensus asserting its existence with different identities in every period is a method that will strengthen local democracy and we will continue within this framework," he said.
“TRUSTEE POLICY SHOULD NOT COME TO THE METROPOLITAN CITY”
When asked which side they would support if both the NEW Party and the CHP nominate candidates in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly, Çınar said, "Our stance is clear. In the face of the anti-democratic practice and if a city is to be governed by the people, if we have carried out the local democracy policy by taking the votes of the people so far, from now on, it will be approached from a place that takes the opinion of the people and will be determined in this direction. Of course, a trustee policy should not come to the metropolitan city. We will stand against this. Let's express it specifically. The people's opinion." "Let's briefly say that these people, who came with their votes, should also govern in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality," he said.
