Statement by Presidency on Resignation Rumors of Gökçek: Allegations are Fiction

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Presidency Press Center has issued a statement about the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek.

It was also said in the statement that Balıkesir Mayor Ahmed Edip Uğur from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) didn’t meet with the president.

“It has been observed that pure fictional allegations were reported in the media concerning President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting yesterday.

“Mr. President had Ankara Mayor Mr. Melih Gökçek in the Presidency Palace but no meeting was held with Balıkesir Mayor Mr. Edip Uğur”.

Gökçek and Uğur were mentioned in the list of AKP mayors who are allegedly asked to resign.

In the wake of the meeting Gökçek wrote on his Twitter account that he filled in the president with respect to the projects that are on the agenda of Ankara, and that Uğur said that no meeting was held with the president.

What happened?

It was stated in a report broadcasted on Kanal D TV channel on Monday (October 2) that President Erdoğan reportedly asked for the resignation of some Justice and Development Party (AKP) mayors.

Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek, Bursa Mayor Recep Altepe, Balıkesir Mayor Ahmet Edip Uğur, Uşak Mayor Nurullah Şahan, Niğde Mayor Faruk Akdoğan and Nevşehir Mayor Hasan Ünver were mentioned in the news report.

In response to journalists’ question concerning Gökçek being asked for his resignation, Erdoğan responded:

“There is no such thing at the moment but it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. We will live this change and transformation until the election”. 

On October 5, making a statement on his return from his trip to Iran, President Erdoğan said, “Everything is good when one is brought to a post, but why asking them to leave is found odd?”. (HK/TK)