İstanbul's New Mayor Assumes Office: 'Together, We Disregarded Those Who Disregard Democracy'

Photos: Ekrem İmamoğlu / Twitter

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Ekrem İmamoğlu, the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) new mayor of İstanbul formally assumed office today (June 27).

After receiving his certificate of election by the Provincial Election Council at the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, İmamoğlu headed the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality in Fatih, where thousands were waiting for his speech.

İmamoğlu served as the mayor of the city for 18 days, until the March 31 polls which he narrowly won were canceled by the Supreme Election Council. He increased his votes to 54 percent in the June 23 repeat election.

Beginning his speech, İmamoğlu thanked Ali Yerlikaya, the Governor of İstanbul, who also served as the acting mayor after the cancellation of the elections handed over the office to İmamoğlu today.

"Of course, everyone knows that it is divine to serve as mayor in such an ancient city. I want to put forward an understanding of an administration that avoids mistakes. İstanbul needs many things. May the God not shame us.

"I am having the joy of having belief in democracy and the republic under this beautiful flag.

"On March 31, some wanted to stop the time but the nation made the time progress.

"İstanbulites said, 'You can't mess with our sense of justice.' İstanbulites said, 'The sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation'.

"The İstanbulites have verified their commitment to democracy. Turkey is not just another country in the Middle East; it deeply believes in democracy. I thank 16 million people of the city.

"Altogether, we undermined those handful of people who undermined the democracy." (PT/VK)