Mansur Yavaş announced that he resigned from CHP

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş announced his resignation from CHP on his social media account. "I will continue on my way independently," Yavaş said in his statement:

My Dear Citizens, There are some decisions in politics; It is not taken with anger or explained with resentment. It is thought about for a long time, weighed with conscience, responsibility is assumed and finally expressed openly in the presence of the Turkish nation. The decision I made today is such a decision.

The process, which started on March 19 and continued with many legal and political debates, including absolute nullity debates, has brought politics in Turkey to a point that we all regretfully follow.

"NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN MY THOUGHTS"

Throughout this process, I clearly expressed what I thought, what I objected to, and what path I proposed. I will not repeat these at length today. Whatever I said yesterday, I am at the same point today. Nothing has changed in my thoughts.

However, I have to underline some points. What I understand from party membership is; To do justice to the identity you carry, to not let the people who trust you bow their heads, to give credibility to the political structure you represent in the eyes of the nation, and to properly fulfill the responsibilities you have taken.

I have never been involved in any behavior that would humiliate the Republican People's Party or cause embarrassment to the people who voted for it.

On the contrary; We tried to show how municipality in Ankara can be done without discrimination, in a transparent, accountable manner and by using the public's money for the public. I'm not the only one saying this.

The great support given to us in Ankara, public opinion surveys conducted throughout Türkiye and the favor shown by our citizens from different political views are the clearest indicators of this.

If I was elected as a mayor from the Republican People's Party; If I have not tarnished the name of my party during my term of office, if I have accomplished exemplary work throughout Türkiye and if I have made the people who voted for me proud, I believe that I have fulfilled my responsibility of representation.

"I DID NOT SEE MYSELF ABOVE THE PARTIES"

I carried my responsibility yesterday and I still do today. I have never considered myself above political parties. I consider such a claim to be excessive.

However, there is a very important truth that my duty as mayor has taught me: When unity cannot be achieved at the ceiling of politics, the nation can achieve that unity at the base if it wishes.

We achieved this in Ankara. Millions of people from different political views came together around the same will. We did not ask anyone where they came from or which party they voted for. We did not discriminate anyone from another because of their political identity.

Because for us everyone is equal. I always said:

If there is to be a change of power in Turkey through democratic means, this will not happen through the opposition consuming each other; It depends on being able to come together on common principles.

For this reason, I have repeatedly stated that the discussions that have been going on for months, especially the process carried out based on absolute nullity, could lead to a deep division in the Republican People's Party, and that this would harm not only the CHP but also the hope of democratic politics in Turkey.

I have previously said that if there is any discomfort within the party about me or the attitude I follow, I will do whatever is necessary.

"I WILL CONTINUE MY WAY INDEPENDENTLY"

And due to some statements made today; I am resigning from my membership in the Republican People's Party and I present to the public that I am continuing my political path independently.

I will not ignore any of my friends with whom I walked yesterday because of their political choices today. Throughout my life, I will be indebted to everyone with whom I stood in the elections under the roof of CHP for three terms, fought with them, stood by me during the election campaigns, believed in me, and put forth their efforts and hearts.

My stance on another issue is extremely clear. Our citizens' trust in politics and politicians has been severely damaged. We have to look for responsibility for this not in the voters but in ourselves.

When people go to the polls, they vote not only for a name but also for a political will. For this reason, I did not find it right to ignore the will of the voters and to move the positions obtained with their votes to political addresses that the voters did not approve of, and I still do not find it right today.

"LOYALTY TO THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IS THE HONOR OF POLITICS"

Loyalty to the will of the voters is the honor of politics. Moving that will elsewhere for personal reasons is not only a political mistake; It is a grave sin against the voters.

For this reason, the meaning of my decision to continue my path independently today is clear... From now on, as the Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality; I will continue to serve all Ankara residents with the same understanding, regardless of their political views, whether they voted for me or not.

Because for me, being a mayor is not a step in my political career, it is the trust of the nation. Positions are temporary. Political conditions may change. But loyalty to the trust given to you by the nation does not change.

I will protect this trust in the same way from now on, just as I have done so until now. I take full responsibility for the decision I made today. The appreciation, as always, belongs to our beloved nation.