Ekrem İmamoğlu, the opposition’s İstanbul mayoral candidate who was officially declared the new mayor of Turkey’s largest city on Wednesday, has vowed to conduct municipal affairs in a transparent and pluralistic way in his first public remarks after assuming office.
İmamoğlu was certified as mayor by the İstanbul election board after 17 days of objections and vote recounts.
Speaking to a crowd that gathered in front of the İstanbul municipal building after he took over the post from Mevlüt Uysal, the city’s former mayor, İmamoğlu said: “There will not be anything like turning this city’s blessings into booty. There will not be a group of oppressed people in this city. I promise you pluralism and transparency. We have to work hard. … There is a new beginning in İstanbul.
Nominated by an alliance between the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the İYİ (Good) Party, İmamoğlu has become even more popular since the local election on March 31 with his firm stance against ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) objections to the election results.
CHP and İYİ Party members worked hard at election board centers during the reassessment of votes, immediately announcing the latest recounts to the public.
In his speech, İmamoğlu said he accepted the mandate on behalf of the 16 million residents of İstanbul and that he would be a representative of all people in the city and serve them all.
