İstanbul Mayor Says He Can Convince Erdoğan not to Build Canal İstanbul

Click to read the article in Turkish

İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has said that he could convince President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan not to build Canal İstanbul.

"I am sure I would convince him," he told reporters at a visit to a subway construction site, adding that they oppose the canal project because they think the priority should be given to projects that could not be completed because of lack of funds.

He also noted that he has not been able to receive a response to his request for a meeting with the president since he was elected mayor in June.

When asked about Erdoğan's remarks that he is not authorized to make a decision on the canal project, İmamoğlu said, "Frankly, I would expect Mr. President to be more explanatory. But we still hear similar statements. I didn't understand anything from the statements on Canal İstanbul."

Erdoğan said yesterday (December 26) that Canal İstanbul is a "project of the state" and İmamoğlu, in accordance with his responsibilities, should abide by decisions that were made by the government, otherwise, he would be "held accountable."

"Of course, we have responsibilities to the state. To some [state] agencies, to the Court of Accounts, to the Council of the State... I am the mayor," İmamoğlu said, adding that he will answer to the 16 million people of İstanbul.

The Board of Inspection and Survey of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization on December 23 approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report of the Canal İstanbul project, which foresees an artificial sea-level waterway across the city from Black Sea to Marmara Sea. (AÖ/VK)