Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), shared his call for “change” after the election and his last meeting with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), with journalist Fatih Altaylı, TR724.com reported.
İmamoğlu, whose “change” statements after the presidential elections on May 14 and 28 were interpreted as a candidacy for the leadership of the CHP, said, “If we haven’t achieved success with the methods we have tried so far, then we need to change the methods. We cannot act as if nothing has happened. We cannot continue as if it were May 13.”
Journalist Fatih Altaylı conveyed his meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), whose name has been mentioned for the leadership of the CHP, on his own website.
Highlights from İmamoğlu’s statements are as follows:
(What does “change” imply?) Whatever is necessary. If we haven’t achieved success with the methods we have tried so far, then we need to change the methods. We need to determine this with the collective wisdom of the party. But to do this, we first need to understand and accept the situation.
“WE CANNOT ACT AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED”
We lost the election. 48% is certainly not a bad rate, but it is a rate that is not enough to win, and after losing the election, especially after emphasizing how important winning this election is for Turkey’s future throughout the election campaign, we cannot act as if nothing has happened.
“CHANGING THE LEADER?”
(Is changing the leader the way to do it?) I haven’t said anything like that. I’m just saying that we cannot act as if nothing has happened. We cannot continue as if it were May 13. First of all, we need to sit down and talk, determine what we need to do. The provincial administrations, mayors, winning and losing MPs should come together and assess the situation. We should discuss the change here. I have explained these to the Party Leader. I explained more than that. I explained what I saw in the field. He didn’t say no to anything I said. He didn’t say it’s impossible. He didn’t say I’m unjust. He always approved.
“HE DIDN’T SAY ‘NO'”
(Did you explain these to him as well?) “Of course, I did. I explained more than that. I explained what I saw in the field. I said that if we don’t do this, even local elections will be at risk. He didn’t say ‘no’ to anything I said. He didn’t say it’s impossible. He didn’t say I’m unjust. He always approved.”
“IF LEADERSHIP CHANGE IS REQUIRED FOR CHANGE, THEN IT’S INCLUDED”
(What should this change encompass, in your opinion?) Whatever it requires, whatever is necessary. (Does this include a change in the Party Leader?) If it’s necessary, then it’s included… Change doesn’t have to be completed tomorrow, but it needs to start as soon as possible. A timetable can be determined during this process, and everything should progress in a manner befitting the CHP. The Party Leader should manage this process in an honorable manner. And in the end, he should extend his hand to someone.
“THE PARTY LEADER SHOULD INITIATE THE CHANGE”
Are you that person? It was written and said that you told the Party Leader such a thing.
I neither said nor will I say such a thing. I’m saying that we cannot act as if nothing has happened. We need to sit down and talk, initiate the change, and it should be initiated by the Party Leader.
“I THINK IT WILL OPEN THE WAY FOR A CHANGE”
(Are you hopeful about the change? Kemal Bey changed the party management and dismissed his advisors.)
As I said, my last meeting with the Party Leader went very well. I believe it will pave the way for a change. This issue is not a personal matter for İmamoğlu or anyone else. It is a societal issue. We must restore hope to a large segment of the population who are dissatisfied with the current situation. It is imperative that we rectify this disappointment until the local elections.
