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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu visited the Federation of Manav Turks' Associations in Marmara Region in Tuzla, İstanbul yesterday (June 4).
Making a brief statement there, Kılıçdaroğlu said the following regarding the recent ruling of the Supreme Election Council (YSK) that allows the same district election council chairs and electoral directors to be on duty in İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral election rerun on June 23:
'İmamoğlu is the mayor of 16 million İstanbulites'
"With this ruling, the Supreme Election Council is, in a sense, confessing that it has annulled the İstanbul elections unjustly. It is a ruling of confession. Lots of other similar things were also said before. But, this ruling given by the YSK has expressed that its previous ruling of annulment was not right. The ruling of the YSK does not mean anything to us.
"The rival of [CHP candidate] Ekrem İmamoğlu is not [AKP candidate] Binali Yıldırım anymore, the rival of Mr. İmamoğlu is now the Supreme Election Council. We hope that İstanbulites will eliminate this injustice and Mayor İmamoğlu will achieve such a majority with their votes that the YSK cannot make up any excuses and, therefore, he will be elected the Mayor of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality for the second time.
"Mr. İmamoğlu only aims to serve İstanbulites. And let me express this: From now on, Ekrem İmamoğlu is not only the metropolitan mayor of CHP but also that of 16 million İstanbulites and we hope that the impaired balance of justice will be restored by İstanbulites."
Debate on the name of İstanbul
Kılıçdaroğlu also answered a question regarding the statement of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who previously said, "We have 22 days against the ones who want to see İstanbul as Constantinople":
"Who sees it like that? I want to ask it: Who sees it like that? If there is a name, then say it. If someone sees it like that, announce it.
"The person sitting on the top seat of the state should not mislead the people. He should not lie to people.
"İstanbul has been İstanbul since 1453. We cannot forget two figures for İstanbul: One of them is Mehmed the Conqueror and the other one is Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who saved İstanbul from occupation.
"The name of İstanbul is İstanbul in all periods. No one has the right or authority to confuse people. If some said it and if he used the language of that person, then he should ask him or her, 'Why did you say it?' It is only him who says that, there is not anyone else." (EMK/SD)
* Photograph and news source: CHP official website
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