NEW Party Chairman Özgür Özel answered the questions of journalists after the Friday prayer in Çorlu. In his statement, Özel spoke about the new deputy mayor election in Üsküdar Municipality.
Reacting to the fact that the elections were held on a date when the municipal council members were in custody, Özel criticized the Istanbul Governorship's determination of the election date.
The highlights of Özel's statements are as follows:
"Dear friends, I greet you all with respect. I would like to thank this great excitement and this valuable hosting in Thrace, Tekirdağ and Çorlu. We thank our Provincial Mayor, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Çorlu Mayor, MPs and all our citizens. We were in my hometown in Manisa yesterday. Now, we will make contacts in three provinces in Thrace in two days, we have busy schedules.
“OUR FIRST CONGRESS IS SİVAS CONGRESS”
We were at Çorlu Süleymaniye Mosque for Friday prayer. No meeting was actually planned here. In Tekirdağ, we have a visit to tradesmen in Süleymanpaşa in the evening and then a meeting with our citizens. However, as always, Çorlu suddenly turned this place into a very crowded rally square.
Now I will say a word or two to our citizens. Through you, our esteemed press members, who attended the Sivas Congress, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, on the 107th anniversary of the Sivas Congress; We commemorate with mercy and gratitude all the delegates of the congress who took the first steps in the organization of the War of Independence and the establishment of the Republic. We, as NEW Party cadres who fully embrace the Republic founded by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its values, are preparing for our second congress next November.
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave the answer to those who asked, "When did you hold the first congress?" Our first congress is the Sivas Congress. We held our first congress on 4-5 September 1919, 107 years ago. As NEW Party; As the cadres who embraced the Sivas Congress, the congress decisions, then the liberation and then the establishment, we once again celebrate the 107th anniversary of the Sivas Congress.
“WHEN IT IS THE NATIONAL WILL, IT IS ABOVE EVERYTHING”
On another note, we are faced with a great injustice. Massive injustices have been going on for too long. But now, friends, you know, the lining of someone's face is torn. We are in such a situation. When Üsküdar came to Istanbul, where Mr. Erdoğan attaches great importance and resides, for years the people of Üsküdar said 'Let the Justice and Development Party rule'. Nobody said anything, they just managed. Since it is the national will, since the decision of the nation is above everything else.
In these elections, the people made a decision on March 31, 2024 and said, 'Let Sinem Dedetaş rule Üsküdar this term.' He was a mayor from the Republican People's Party at that time. He said that for years the AK Party ruled. After Özgür Özel's 'change', a woman nominated by him in Istanbul should rule Üsküdar.'
Sinem Dedetaş, who caused great excitement in her candidacy, created great excitement, just like our female Mayor candidate in Tekirdağ, Candan Yüceer, and as in both elections, Sinem Dedetaş was elected by receiving the vote of one out of two people or more. He was managing Üsküdar and doing incredible things. Remember that occupation in Üsküdar square. He opened it completely to the public. He did a job that was said to be 'never possible'. In fact, at that time, when the previous Minister of Internal Affairs was the governor, those invaders even set the police against the police alongside those invaders dispersed by the AK Party. But Sinem, with great courage, did things that had not been done in Üsküdar for years.”
“THE SATISFACTION RATE WITH SİNEM DEDETAŞ IS 65 PERCENT”
Look, that's how we measured it. Let the AK Party show the satisfaction survey they conducted in Üsküdar. The satisfaction rate of Üsküdar residents with Sinem Dedetaş is 65 percent. In the past few days, under false allegations, they detained him from files that had no connection with him and put him in prison. Then they elected deputy mayor instead. First round okay, second round okay. In the third round, four people changed sides. They did something. It's mind-boggling.
"THE 3 PEOPLE WILL TAKE PLACE IN ÜSKÜDAR WITH THE ELECTION THEY MAKE WHILE THEY ARE IN CUSTODY"
But in the last round, Üsküdar Municipality did not pass to the Justice and Development Party again. Right after that, the AK Party went and objected. They decided to renew the elections on Wednesday to Saturday. Do you believe or see? Friends detained three of our municipal council members. They will keep it for four days until Sunday. The governor's office quickly wrote the letter, they will hold elections on Saturday. It's mind-boggling. While the three people are in custody, they will descend on Üsküdar with the choice they will make. They are in such an account. It doesn't make sense. It never makes sense.
"THEY WILL PUT Snatch In ÜSKÜDAR"
Istanbul Governorship also says, 'We have not taken a stance so that a party can win.' Look, the AK Party is getting that court decision taken away. From then on, the Governor can choose between three days and 10 days. They detain people for four days. The governor immediately puts the election on the third day. If he puts it at five, if he puts it at 10. Impossible. While people are in custody, there will be an election and they will carry out purse snatching in Üsküdar. We complain about this to our nation. Our struggle continues.
HE CALLED TO ERDOĞAN: "WILL YOU TAKE ÜSKÜDAR LIKE THIS? THEN WHY ARE ELECTIONS HELD?"
From here, on Friday, I call out to Tayyip Erdoğan: You ruled Üsküdar for years. The people gave it to someone else. If you are going to take Üsküdar, which you care about very much, will you buy it like this? In front of this nation, detain the municipal council members who will vote in this country for four days, and then have elections held there.
"THE LINING OF THEIR FACES HAS BEEN Ripped, THEY ARE NOT ASHAMED OF ANYTHING!"
