Ekrem İmamoğlu: It is the Politicians Who Have to Know Their Place

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Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose certificate of election has been cancelled after the Supreme Election Council (YSK) has ruled that Metropolitan Mayoral Elections in İstanbul shall be repeated, commented on the recent developments on Fox TV Main News Bulletin yesterday (May 7).

CLICK - Supreme Election Council Cancels İstanbul Local Elections

Repeating his statement, "Businesspeople will speak, artists will speak," İmamoğlu said, "Businesspeople will speak. Look, the economy of the country is going downhill. It is the politicians who have to know their place. It is the politicians who have to know their place if they do not do their duty."

Some highlights from İmamoğlu's speech are as follows:

'Only one shady voting paper in a single envelope'

"You cast four votes in one envelope: Metropolitan municipality, district municipality, metropolitan municipal council and village/neighborhood head.

"Since they [the ruling AKP] have the majority in district municipalities and metropolitan municipal council, there is no problem with them. Only the metropolitan municipality is shady. There is malpractice.

'Come on, cancel the districts as well'

"They say that bank clerks were on duty in balloting committees instead of public officers. I am making a call to those bank clerks who were on duty on June 24 [Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2018]: Come and find me. I will meet these people.

"I am really sorry! You invited those citizens, then you gave a verdict by referring to those balloting committee members at 212 ballot boxes.

"You cannot give a verdict of absolute unlawfulness, either. Why? Because, then, you would also lose the district municipalities.

"Come on, bring it on! Let's cancel all district mayoral elections. Cancel the parliamentary elections as well.

CLICK - CHP to Raise Objection of 'Absolute Unlawfulness' to YSK

'We never thought of boycotting repeat elections'

"(To a question on boycott) This society needs to be normalized with democracy, with a struggle through the ballot box. I am struggling for this.

"There are the ones who are expecting chaos from us. My citizens will keep calm. I am making a call to millions of İstanbulites: Please, talk about the unjust treatment that you were subjected to. We will wage our struggle at the ballot box. We never thought of boycott.

'It is the politicians who have to know their place'

"I am also struggling for the children and grandchildren of the ones who gave this treacherous verdict against us. We will speak. Don't be afraid.

"We are a nation that is devoted to its freedom. Businesspeople will speak. Look, the economy of the country is going downhill.

"It is the politicians who have to know their place. It is the politicians who have to know their place if they don't fulfill their duty.

"I am extending my congratulations to the artists. These artists do not have any benefit out of me. I will roam the streets of İstanbul as the mayor-elect. And I will be met with enthusiasm."

CLICK - From Erdoğan to Industry and Business Association TÜSİAD: Know Your Place

CLICK - Artists Denounce Cancellation of İstanbul Elections: 'Everything Will Be Fine'

(EKN/SD)