Yeni Parti opens Artvin office, leader declares 'squares are ours'

The Yeni Parti (New Party) inaugurated its Artvin Provincial Directorate building, drawing a significant turnout of party officials, local mayors, and residents. The event underscored the party's organizational efforts and its connection with local communities.

During the opening, Yeni Parti Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın delivered a speech invoking historical resistance against occupation and emphasizing the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He drew parallels between past struggles for independence and the current political climate, asserting the party's commitment to democratic principles. Günaydın directly addressed the Minister of National Education, criticizing remarks perceived as undermining the War of Independence and vowing accountability.

Günaydın framed the party's mission as a continuation of the fight for democracy and the Republic. He stated, "If the Sultan's decree is absolute, the squares are ours," a powerful declaration of popular will and public space. He detailed the party's electoral achievements, noting victories in major cities like Istanbul and Ankara, and securing hundreds of municipalities across Turkey. This success was presented as a collective effort, building on the party's transformation and its rise to become the leading party in Turkey with 38% of the vote.

The speaker also acknowledged the party's presidential election defeat, describing it as a setback that initially caused doubt about future recovery. However, he highlighted the subsequent party congress that initiated change, leading to the successful municipal election campaigns. Günaydın stressed that while party members contributed significantly, the ultimate gratitude belongs to the citizens whose support made these victories possible. He also recounted the events following the Istanbul mayoral election, where despite transportation disruptions, citizens, including university students, managed to reach Saraçhane to show solidarity.