The 23rd anniversary of the 2019 June 3 elections, one of the turning points in the history of democracy in Turkey, was celebrated with the 'Democracy Festival' held in Yenikapı. Speaking at the festival held with the participation of Parliamentary CHP Group Deputy Chairman Engin Altay and CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairperson Canan Kaftancıoğlu, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu“The overwhelming majority of the citizens of this country want change. If we achieve this change with a strong will and in peace, all of our worries will be replaced by hope. But all this is possible with your active effort. You are the address of hope and exit. If you want, anything will happen. Let no one go astray. Let no one miscalculate. In this country, what the people say happens," he said. İmamoğlu, who did not leave the water requests of some young people filling the area unanswered, said, “Dear young people, you are thirsty right now; The nation is thirsty for justice, for justice. He thirsted for justice. We, as the administration, will bring you water because you are thirsty. You young people will bring justice to this nation, which is thirsty for justice," he said.
The Mayor, who was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) twice in the same year. Ekrem İmamoğlu, spoke at the "Democracy Festival" held for the 23rd anniversary of the 2019 June 3 elections, one of the turning points in the history of democracy in Turkey. Participating in the event held in Yenikapı Rally Area with his wife Dilek İmamoğlu and daughter Beren, İmamoğlu went to the platform where citizens, mostly young people, will give a speech under the show of affection.
“THE NIGHT OF JUNE 23, YOU SHOWED AN AWESOME DEMOCRACY WILL”
Reminding that they celebrated the 23rd anniversary of the election success on June 2019, 3, İmamoğlu said, “Today, each of us; It is the anniversary of a day that every Istanbulite and every Turkish citizen will be proud of. Today is the anniversary of a day where 16 million Istanbulites made an unforgettable will for the future of the city and inspired the whole world. Today is the anniversary of a day when 16 million decided on a new axis in the name of this beautiful country. This country can't be proud of you. Because you, 16 million Istanbulites, showed a tremendous will for democracy 3 years ago, on the night of June 23. Without provocation, you went to the polls with common sense and put democracy on track and established justice. You did this. You made it. You have once again written that precious idea, that unforgettable sentence that founded our republic in golden letters in the history of democracy: Sovereignty belongs to the nation unconditionally. Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation. Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation,” he said. Saying, “You showed the whole world how strong and unshakable the democracy demand of the people of this cherished city and this great country is,” İmamoğlu said, “You turned June 23 into a 'victory of democracy'. The 'June 23 Democracy Victory' that you have achieved, no matter how oppressive or denial a regime is; It has proven that people who believe in democracy and success can overcome all kinds of difficulties and bring about change.”
“THE CRISIS IS DEEPENDING DUE TO THE INCOMPENSION OF UNQUALIFIED STAFF”
Emphasizing that the rulers of Turkey could not find solutions to the country's problems for a long time, İmamoğlu said:
“Our country's economy, foreign policy, security and inner peace are going through difficult days. Unfortunately, the administrative crisis and the economic crisis we are experiencing are intertwined and deep. Unfortunately, this crisis is deepening day by day due to the incompetence of unqualified cadres. With each passing day, we lag behind the world growth rate. The share we get from the world economy is also decreasing as it declines. We fell from the G80 league, where we have been one of the 20 largest economies in the world for 20 years, because of the mistakes of this government. Our country, which was 1990th in 46 and 2003rd in 53 in terms of national income per capita, has dropped to 87th place today because of these.
“THIS GREAT NATION DOESN'T DESERVE THIS”
Emphasizing that Turkey does not deserve its position, İmamoğlu said, “This great nation, which has shaped history for centuries, opened and closed eras, does not deserve this. “Despite all kinds of defamation, all kinds of obstructions, the deepening crisis, the incurring costs and the 2-year pandemic we have been exposed to since the day we came to work, it is obvious what we have achieved in Istanbul.” Saying, "We have taken and continue to take big and giant steps that will increase your quality of life in all areas of life," İmamoğlu shared the following information:
“To solve the traffic problem permanently, we are building 10 metro lines at the same time for the first time in the world's history. We are taking sustainable steps for green transformation all over the city. We are building 15 living valleys of millions of square meters in order for our children and people to have more greenery. Even under these conditions, we have provided and continue to provide employment opportunities to more than 50 thousand people in Istanbul in various sectors through the Institute Istanbul and Regional Employment Offices. We provide educational support to 10 thousands of university students and 100 thousands of primary school students. We provide regular milk support to hundreds of thousands of children in need every week. We are protecting our future by opening nurseries and dormitories for the first time in our history. In order to be with millions of households in these difficult times, we are giving 5 times more cash and in-kind aid than the support provided in the previous periods. We are taking great steps to support agriculture, agricultural production and animal husbandry in and around Istanbul and make these supports permanent and regular.”
“WE PROTECT ISTANBUL, DEVELOP AND SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS ONE BY ONE”
Saying, "I am not telling you all this to make propaganda on this beautiful evening," İmamoğlu said, "I am telling you all this to show you what kind of results a change in mentality can bring for the benefit of the people in a city. With this transformation, which we call the 'Istanbul Model', I am telling you to exemplify that politics can produce solutions under all conditions. We protect and develop Istanbul and solve its problems one by one. We bring Istanbul together with green, increase the quality of life and give hope. Because we have a promise to Istanbul: We set out by saying 'care for the city, respect for people'. We said 'Istanbul will be a fair, green and creative city'. Because we know that; Istanbul is Turkey. Protecting Istanbul is protecting Turkey. To develop Istanbul is to develop Turkey. To enrich Istanbul is to enrich Turkey. Greening Istanbul is greening Turkey. Educating Istanbul is educating Turkey. To give hope to Istanbul is to give hope to Turkey.”
“WHAT THE NATION SAYS IN THIS COUNTRY”
He told the participants, mostly young people, “You should know that there is hope and exit in this country. You should know that there are great opportunities in front of Turkey," İmamoğlu said.
“Because a worldwide wave of innovation is starting. Catching this wave of innovation in the fields of digital and green technologies; It is quite possible to increase the competitiveness of Turkey and the welfare of its citizens. There is a need for radical structural transformations in all areas of the economy, industry, agriculture and services. For this, radical transformations are needed in education, public policies and investment understanding. It is now obvious that these cannot be done with this power. For this reason, we must first change the government, achieve the transformation and bring in cadres that will increase the welfare of the people. That day is approaching. Because the overwhelming majority of the citizens of this country want change. If we achieve this change with a strong will and in peace, all of our worries will be replaced by hope. But all this is possible with your active effort. Because you are the address of hope and exit. If you want, anything will happen. Let no one go astray. Let no one miscalculate. In this country, what the people say happens."
“WE WILL ALL KNOW OUR LOTS AGAINST THE WILL OF THE NATION”
Emphasizing that the owners of Istanbul and Turkey are citizens, İmamoğlu said, “There may be some who see this ancient city and this beautiful country as the property of an individual, a family, a foundation or a party. Whoever sees himself as more important and more valuable than the citizens who elected him, one day will come and take the measure of his height. All the elected officials of this country; headmen, mayors, deputies, presidents… We will all know our place before the conscience of the people and the will of the nation. But you, too, will be aware of your power as the original owner, equal and honorable citizens of this country. You too will act with the power and might of being the real owner of this city and this country. As equal and honorable citizens of the Republic, you will know your rights, defend them bravely and always demand more.”
“THE PEOPLE HAVE POWER IN DEMOCRACIES”
Saying, “The power in democracies is the people and the citizens,” İmamoğlu said, “The Republic taught us to be the owner of this country as free and equal citizens. As we approach its second century, it is our most important duty and need to crown our Republic more with democracy. Those who try to win elections by polarizing the society, those who try to protect their power by polarizing should know that; This great nation, in love with democracy, now knows what it wants. This great nation wants a pluralistic and genuine democracy, where the majority has a right to rule, as well as a management understanding that accepts the minority's right to exist and express themselves. It is you who will do this. You are of all ages, genders, professions, creeds and lifestyles. Because this city, this country is yours. This life is yours. You are honorable citizens of this country, thirsty for justice, with full faith in democracy, with high enthusiasm. You don't deserve it, but you don't eat your right either. With your courage and transformational power, Turkey will have a great opportunity for change this time. Trust yourself! Trust yourself! Trust yourself,” he said.
HE MADE THE FINAL WITH NAZIM HİKMET
İmamoğlu, who did not leave the water demands of some of the young people filling the area unanswered, asked the officials to deliver water to the participants. İmamoğlu expressed his feelings at that moment, “Dear young people, you are thirsty right now; The nation is thirsty for justice, for justice. He thirsted for justice. We, as the administration, will bring you water because you are thirsty. You young people will also bring justice to this nation, which is thirsty for justice.” Concluding his speech with the lines of Nazim Hikmet, the great poet of Turkish poetry, “There is a raid / A raid on the sun / We will conquer the sun / The conquest of the sun is near”, İmamoğlu took the stage at the end of his speech; Engin Altay, CHP Group Deputy Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, invited CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu, deputies and district mayors and his wife Dilek İmamoğlu. The delegation on the stage and tens of thousands of participants sang the beautiful song of the Duman group "Better than You" in unison. Keeping his promise during his speech, İmamoğlu distributed water to the young people attending the festival with his own hands. Democracy Festival ended with Edis concert.
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