İmamoğlu: Our Responsibility Has Grown

commemorated the martyrs

“I wish God's mercy on the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and all the values ​​we lost, from the mayor to the employees, who served this ancient city. On the occasion of Martyrs' Week, I bow respectfully to all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this beautiful country of ours. I express my gratitude to our veterans. Before you, I am opening the first session of the new term of IMM, which is the 9th election period, that is, between 2024-2029. “May it be beneficial and auspicious for our municipality, our city and 16 million Istanbulites.”

“OUR RESPONSIBILITY HAS GROWED WITH THE NEW 5 YEARS”

“In the elections of March 31, 2024, our people exercised their democratic right and gave us the duty to govern Istanbul for another 5 years. We are extremely pleased that our efforts and service over the past 5 years have been appreciated and favored by our people. Of course, it has also increased our responsibility. With the awareness of responsibility given by this appreciation, Istanbul's breakthrough and investment period will continue to grow further in our second term. Our management approach, which has eliminated waste and introduced populist municipalism, has become an example for many cities in Turkey. Our Suspended Invoice application, which represents our solidarity spirit, has fortunately been taken as an example many times by dozens of cities around the world. “I am proud to enter a new era in a stronger way, in which we will continue our path stronger with this understanding that is both developmentalist and solidarity.”

“OUR NATION GIVEN VERY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE MESSAGES IN THE MARCH 31 ELECTIONS”

“Our Metropolitan Municipality Council is the place where the will of Istanbulites is represented at the highest level. We have been assigned to be worthy of that will for the new era and to serve this ancient and unique city. I would like to remind all my fellow council members in this hall today, first and foremost, that our titles and positions are temporary, and our responsibilities are above all personal and political considerations. May God grant all of us, the people of Istanbul, not to be embarrassed and to be able to provide this city with the service it deserves. Our nation gave very important and valuable messages in the March 31 elections, as in every election. Each of us is responsible for understanding those messages well and doing what is necessary. This term, we will together provide our fellow citizens with the experience of a truly democratic parliament that acts with common sense, consultation and compromise under all circumstances, and prioritizes the interests of Istanbulites at the highest level. No one should doubt this. We are determined to be the most transparent, most democratic, most effective and most efficient parliament in the history of Istanbul and all of Turkey. We will use our authority only for the interests of 16 million Istanbulites. "We will be worthy of the values ​​of our country and our Republic, and the principles and direction shown by its founder, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk."

“MARCH 31 IS A CLEAR EXPRESSION OF THE DEMAND FOR A POLITICS BASED ON COMMON REASON AND CONSCIENCE THAT DOES NOT POLARIZE PEOPLE”

“March 31 election results; It is a clear expression of the demand for a fair, honest, problem-solving-oriented politics. March 31 is a clear expression of the demand for a conscientious and common sense-based politics that does not polarize people. In our understanding of service, no segment of society is, can be, or should be the enemy or adversary of another. Partisanship is never clearly present in our understanding of governance. Over the next 5 years, we will continue to take steps to demonstrate this and this understanding much more strongly in this parliament. With common sense, we will solve all the problems of our city one by one and make large and permanent investments together. We will continue to support our citizens at the highest level in this major economic crisis. We will further increase and accelerate our social infrastructure projects with city restaurants, dormitories, student scholarships, mother cards, women's educational institutions and nurseries. "We will continue to underpin our city with metro networks, using every opportunity and every resource we can find."

“I HOPE THAT; SOME OBSTACLE EFFORTS, WHICH ARE CLEARLY UNDERSTANDED BY THESE ELECTIONS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE ANY BENEFIT, WILL NOW END.”

“I hope that; Some obstruction efforts, which have become clear with these elections that they provide no benefit, will now come to an end. Today, I would like to reiterate in the esteemed Istanbul Assembly that; Please sign all our pending signatures, especially the Beylikdüzü-Sefaköy rail system. Throw it away so that we can quickly focus on our work as a city. Let's quickly solve Istanbul's environmental, transportation and traffic problems together. If we can work together in this new era, we can increase the quality of life in every district of our city. Just as there are very experienced and seasoned members among us, we also have members who will represent the will of the people in the IMM Assembly for the first time. I wish each of them success in their first period with my highest feelings. Istanbulites expect us to run a proactive and populist municipal government. The overwhelming majority of our 16 million citizens living in this city are affected by political competition; "They demand that it be done within the boundaries of democracy, law, morality and courtesy."

“WE WILL ACT WITHOUT STANDING ON THE PAST”

“I would like to remind you that; Clearly, we are all in the same boat as a nation, without leaving even a single individual out. The area around our country has become the center of international problems. None of us can afford to be partisan when we are in a ring of fire that poses greater risks to national security. We shouldn't. While the nation is becoming poorer day by day due to wrong economic policies that have been implemented stubbornly for many years, and while the children of this nation are losing hope in their homeland due to unemployment and anxiety about the future, we cannot and cannot have the luxury of being a party. We shouldn't. As this ancient city approaches the risk of an earthquake, which is obvious to come, we cannot and should not engage in partisanship. That's why we will act without dwelling on the past, knowing that politics is the art of negotiation and compromise under all circumstances. “We should all do the same.”

"BRIDE; LET'S CROWN MARCH 31 WITH DEMOCRACY"

“From this podium, I call on all our newly elected council members, mayors and our government, regardless of party. Bride; Let's carry our Istanbul and our country to beautiful and prosperous days together. Let's do this together. Bride; Let's crown March 31 with democracy. Bride; Let's transform this result into the synergy at the highest level necessary to re-establish our rule of law. Bride; Let's re-establish the rule of law, our democracy and our climate of brotherhood in the strongest possible way. Bride; Let's all help our economy get back on its feet with rational, sincere, transparent and accountable policies. Bride; Let's prepare our country and Istanbul for the earthquake in the strongest way possible. Do not forget; Investments and services in Istanbul belong to all of us, every penny spent in Istanbul belongs to our entire nation, it is our nation's money. Every project of Istanbul is a project of our nation, not of a party. Bride; Let's see March 31 as a milestone from which each of us can learn a strong lesson. Let's all take the chance together to turn it into a turning point where our city and our country will win and there will be no losers.”

“JUST LIKE THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT EXCITE US AND MAKE US HAPPY, WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED EVENTS THAT HURTED US A VERY RECENT AGO.”

“We recently signed a very important hosting protocol for the 2027 European Games to be held in Istanbul. Winning this international organization is a joint success of our municipality, sports community, state and nation. I can't wait to show Istanbul's success in the best possible way to the entire European and world sports public by joining hands shoulder to shoulder. I am also very excited and happy for our April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, which we will celebrate next week. We will celebrate our children's day with great enthusiasm and pride throughout Istanbul with the convoys that will come to Istanbul from many countries of the world. Just like the developments that excite and delight us, unfortunately, we also experienced sad events that broke our hearts very recently. May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives in these events, from the mining disaster in Erzincan to the fire disaster in Istanbul, and I offer my condolences to their relatives. "Of course, I hope that the competent authorities will investigate every issue that concerns human life meticulously, but primarily with justice."

“WHY DO I EMPHASIZE JUSTICE?”

“I would like to share with you why I emphasize justice. Over the years, many events have been evident in the process, from the Soma disaster to Pamukova and the Çorlu train disaster, where we lost people I loved very much. Even though years have passed, their trials continue. If accidents and disasters occur due to negligence, they should be punished regardless of the person responsible or the party involved. What needs to be done must be done. This requirement should be applied equally and equally for members of my party, the Republican People's Party, as it is for members of the ruling party. Justice makes everyone equal. It should equalize. Unfortunately, while some people have been protected in the courts for years in the above-mentioned cases, the rapid arrest of our Kepez Mayor in the accident in Antalya - I wish mercy to our citizen who lost his life - has left a question mark in minds and consciences. The reason for this is that it created the feeling that justice was manifested according to the man. I would like to announce here that it is important to observe this situation. I would like to make a call to conscience to the public in this sense. "On this occasion, I pray to God that such sad events never happen again."

“WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A VERY STRONG AND NEW ERA IN ISTANBUL”

“We are on the verge of a very strong and new era in Istanbul. Every right step we take together from today will carry our Istanbul to much better days, much faster. Every right step we take together, with consensus, will strengthen the integrity and brotherhood of our city and country. It is clear that our Istanbul is a very important center and an exemplary geography for both the Middle East and the Balkan geography. With this awareness, we must all act together. I would also like to remind you that Istanbul is also a very important and valuable center for humanity, and that everyone sees Istanbul from this perspective. With this awareness, I hope that the ongoing human tragedy in Gaza will end as soon as possible, and I would like to state and announce that the heart of Istanbul beats with all the oppressed all over the world. I also hope that the unfortunately increasing tensions and conflict environment in our region will end as soon as possible. We can succeed in being an example and hope for everyone with the level of democracy that we will demonstrate in front of the eyes of our 16 million fellow citizens and 86 million citizens. Together, we can give Istanbul another 5 years that are truly poetry-like and dream-like. Together, we can have a very special place in the hearts of Istanbulites. With this hope and excitement, I greet you with love and respect.”

After İmamoğlu, respectively; Orkun Ayhan on behalf of MHP, Zeynel Abidin Okul on behalf of AK Party and Ülkü Sakalar on behalf of CHP made a speech.