In a new video, main opposition bloc Nation Alliance’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has announced the vice presidency roles of CHP mayors Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş, should his alliance assume power in the May 14 election. İmamoğlu will be responsible for urban and disaster planning, whereas Yavaş will be in charge of socio-economic and agricultural policies.
Main opposition bloc Nation Alliance’s presidential candidate and Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on April 23 announced the vice presidency roles of CHP’s Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş should he assume power in the upcoming election.
Kılıçdaroğlu shared the video they are seen together with the title of “My Braves.” As of this writing, the video received about 350,000 likes on Twitter.
According to the alliance protocol, in addition to two CHP mayors, leaders of 5 constituent parties will also serves as VPs., though their jobs are yet to be announced.
In Tu
rkey’s untested presidential system, it is not clear whether the popular mayors will have to resign their posts to serve in president’s advisory councils. With crucial local election schedule for March 2024, CHP will not want to sacrifice two major cities to replacements for Imamoglu and Yavas, who are certain to be from AKP, because AKP-MHP hold the majority in Istanbul and Ankara city assemblies.
Referring to the latest attacks against him because of his Alevi heritage, Kılıçdaroğlu said economic problems, rising cost of living and rent prices, earthquakes and floods are on the agenda of the people. “We need the correct urbanization, strengthening our cities with the right housing policies, and strong buildings.”
Kılıçdaroğlu said “I want to prepare Turkey for disasters and increase the resilience of our cities. Who does this task best? Of course, Ekrem Mayor. In Istanbul and in the world, there is only one person who carries out 10 metro projects at the same time. We will give this task to him. He is the valiant person who will end this awful urbanization.”
The 74-year-old candidate said another topic on the agenda of the people is social policies. “We have a lot of work to do in the fight against poverty, from Family Supports Insurance to women’s employment. In addition, we need to implement technological breakthroughs and agricultural development. Which valiant does this task? Mansur Mayor. I trust him who quickly carried the mismanagement in Ankara to a completely different level with his populist policies.”
After Kılıçdaroğlu, İmamoğlu said he is ready to transform Turkey into one of the most important logistics centers of the world, especially as an integrated network with airways and highways, not with unplanned highways, but with rail systems with the experience he gained in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Yavaş said he will restructure the understanding of the social state in which no one sleeps hungry and is not deprived of their education and protein rights. “We will definitely achieve success for Turkey in cyberspace, in seven regions, in 81 provinces, in important strategic and national technological studies with qualified staff and brilliant young people of our country.”
“My dear people, we will work hard, we have no other choice. We are far behind the world. We will work hard to close the distance,” Kılıçdaroğlu lastly added.
Kılıçdaroğlu is running for the presidency for the May 14 election, alongside with ruling People’s Alliance candidate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, CHP-breakaway Homeland Party Chair Muharrem İnce and far-right ATA Alliance candidate Sinan Oğan.
İmamoğlu and Yavaş’s candidacy for vice presidency is expected to bolster support for Kılıçdaroğlu as both figures are popular in polls. The three figures have been occasionally holding joint rallies.
Source: Duvar English, PA Turkey staff
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