Kılıçdaroğlu, İmamoğlu hold joint rally: ‘If you are looking for real vein of nationalism, that is us’

Main opposition CHP leader and Nation Alliance’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu have held a joint rally in the Black Sea province of Trabzon. “I know that there is a powerful vein of nationalism in Trabzon, but no one should forget that if you are looking for a real vein of nationalism, that is also us. We will bring a humane just system in which no one will oppress or no one will be oppressed,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Tuesday April 04 2023 10:06 pm

Kılıçdaroğlu (R) and İmamoğlu address the crowd in Trabzon on April 4.

Duvar English

Turkish opposition Nation Alliance’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on April 4 held a rally in the latter’s hometown of Trabzon.

İmamoğlu was the first one that addressed the citizens. “I am here but did not come here alone. I have come here today with the Turkish Republic’s 13th President Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu,” said İmamoğlu, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

“They (referring to the current leadership) will lose because the reign of just a few people winning came to an end. 86 million people will win (referring to Turkey’s population). No separation; we will win by uniting. Everything will be beautiful. There is today a storm in the Black Sea region, in Trabzon, and that is the storm of our 13th President Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu,” he said.

After İmamoğlu, Kılıçdaroğlu took the stage, vowing to “end discrimination” in the country, “rebuild Turkey,” “alleviate poverty,” “bring justice to the country,” “end nepotism,” and “improve women’s rights and inequality.”

“I know that there is a powerful vein of nationalism in Trabzon, but no one should forget that if you are looking for a real vein of nationalism, that is also us. We will bring a humane just system in which no one will oppress or no one will be oppressed,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.

“Mr. Kemal has a promise; I will convert all of the tenders held in dollars to ones held in Turkish liras. The whole world, and not those in the (Presidential) Palace, will know our nationalism,” he said.

Other than Kılıçdaroğlu, three other politicians are officially running in Turkey's 2023 presidential elections: ruling People’s Alliance candidate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Homeland Party leader Muharrem İnce and far-right ATA Alliance’s candidate Sinan Oğan.

Topics Turkey Kılıçdaroğlu CHP İmamoğlu Trabzon