Seven detained mayors announced that they decided to join the party in a joint message they sent to the 1st Ordinary Congress of the NEW Party.
Mayors of Beşiktaş, Beykoz, Şişli, Büyükçekmece, Bayrampaşa, Ataşehir and Adalar announced that they will continue their political struggle under the leadership of Chairman Özgür Özel.
In the joint message, it was stated that "Our responsibility does not change just because darkness has fallen" and the expressions "We are meeting in the NEW Party founded by the people" were used.
“WE ARE IN SILIVRI BECAUSE WE DID NOT SUBMIT THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE NATION TO POLITICAL GUARDIAN”
Deputy Chairman Yaşar Tüzün read the message of the detained mayors at the 1st Ordinary Congress of the YENİ Party.
The following statements were included in the joint message of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu, Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel and Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat:
"March 31, 2024 was a holiday that will go down in the history of democracy in Turkey. Citizens said change. They gave us authority and responsibility. The ballot box resulted in the will for a fairer city, a more democratic country, a Turkey governed by the people elected. This strong will for change, which emerged from the ballot box, was not welcomed by the government as a natural result of democratic politics. A heavy darkness fell on the country. Today, we are prisoners in Silivri because we did not surrender the authority given by the nation at the ballot box to political tutelage. What we defend and struggle for What we have given is the sovereignty of the nation, which is the basis of the Republic. Since then, an understanding that says 'You are not there, your vote does not matter' has been trying to deprive our citizens of their fundamental rights, their right to speak, and a safe future. But the real problems of the country are waiting for us, the right to housing, the fight against poverty, and making our cities safe and livable are before us today as a greater public responsibility than ever.
When we were elected, we promised to serve with this understanding. We left lasting works in a very short time. We established institutions. We started services. We entrusted it all to our people. Those works remain in place today. The doors of our nurseries are opening, food is served in our city restaurants, and social supports reach the citizens. While the signs of the municipalities remain in place, the will of the people cannot be removed from them. While the services provided are embraced, the democratic will that makes them possible cannot be ignored. Moreover, our responsibility is greater than the borders of our municipalities today. We do not see the vote we received on March 31 as a trust to be protected. Every vote given to us is the jewel of our determination to fight for the nation. Fulfilling that vote requires managing our municipalities well, defending the people's right to choose, the right of those they choose to govern, and Turkey's democratic future.
"THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE IS OUR DIRECTION"
Today, as the elected district mayors of Istanbul, we undertake this responsibility together. What is happening in our country today is not an erosion of democracy with unknown perpetrators. It is the result of the government's policy that takes political competition beyond the ballot box and makes judicial processes a tool for liquidating the elected will. Whatever principle we defend the will of the voters in local government, we also stand in the same place when it comes to the democratic will of political parties.
The people's choice is our direction. We see the intervention against the government elected by the people in a municipality and the will of the members and delegates in a political party as part of the same basic democratic violation. At this point, we have a much bigger issue before us than a party issue: The people's right to choose their own future. For this reason, we decided to continue our political struggle in the direction indicated by our nation, in the NEW Party, under the leadership of our Chairman Özgür Özel.
In Turkish politics today, everyone makes a choice. Some chose to maintain their positions and served this. We chose to protect the will of our voters and we pay the price for this with our freedom. The people of this country will decide which one is right. Our mandate is our responsibility, this does not change just because darkness falls. Our doors are locked, but the road ahead for this country is open. "We are taking a step on that path today: We are meeting in the NEW Party founded by the people."
