AKP's Istanbul candidate vows urban transformation, traffic solutions
ISTANBUL
Murat Kurum, the mayoral candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, has unveiled his agenda, focusing on critical issues such as urban transformation and traffic problems.
Addressing a group of journalists before the mausoleum of Ottoman sultan Mehmet II on Jan. 8, Kurum pledged to work "until there is not a single risky building" in Istanbul, emphasizing the pressing need for seismic safety measures in the earthquake-prone region.
The megacity with 15.9 million residents that last suffered heavy damage from earthquakes in 1999 is on edge, according to the repeated warnings by experts about the expected quake with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher.
The former environment, urbanization and climate change minister complemented his pledges with a promise to alleviate the notorious traffic issues in Istanbul. "We will make living in Istanbul no longer a torment. Traffic is an important step in this sense," he said, vowing to put an end to the "traffic misery" faced by residents.
Earlier in the day following morning prayers at a mosque, Kurum said, "We will start with prayers and end with prayers. We have always stood by our nation in times of hardship and will stand by them whenever the people of Istanbul need us."
Kurum said his team has been working for months, assessing the city's issues with experts and formulating a comprehensive plan to address them.
"We will not marginalize anyone; we will work for everyone," he stated. "We are sure that we will recover Istanbul's lost five years quickly by putting forward an emergency action plan."
The upcoming mayoral election in Istanbul holds significant importance for the AKP, as the party aims to reclaim the city after losing it to the united opposition led by Ekrem İmamoğlu of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in 2019.
With the incumbent mayor once again announced as the CHP's candidate, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made the recapture of the city a key objective for the AKP, rallying support under the slogan "Istanbul again."
In a social media post late on Jan. 7, Kurum shared a photo with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdülkadir Uraloğlu, expressing readiness to tackle the city's challenges from day one. "We talked about our projects for Istanbul without suffering," he wrote.
Kurum also held a press conference a few hours ago at the party's Istanbul headquarters following his candidacy announcement. "Our opponent in this election is clear. Our opponent is indifferent toward Istanbul. Our opponent is negligence... Our opponent is the chaos and systemlessness in Istanbul," he said.
"It is time for change in Istanbul... We will work for our city, not for our pleasure. We will work for the future of Istanbul, not for our own future."
