Thread by @dokuz8_EN

After AKP candidate Yıldırım announced "I can not decide alone" regarding Imamoğlu's challenge to participate in a TV debate, Imamoğlu said "here is the difference; I decide upon what the 16 million residents of this city wants."

https://twitter.com/dokuz8_EN/status/1131320219299975169

AKP Istanbul candidate Yıldırım commented on Imamoğlu's call for a TV debate, "I do not mind which channel or with which journalists we will have a debate with; I would accept all and appear on all platforms. But I will only speak about Istanbul, that is my only request."

AKP vice-chair Mahir Ünal announced "God-willing the TV debate of Yıldırım and Imamoğlu will be on the agenda after the Ramadan Holidays." Yıldırım is claimed to have asked for the TV debate to be on state broadcaster TRT.

AKP Istanbul candidate Yıldırım commented on the TV debate with Imamoğlu, "we hear that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu gave a permission. We are ready for everything, we can speak on any matter but our priority is Istanbul."

TELE 1 owner & chief editor Merdan Yanardağ announced "we would like to host the TV debate between Imamoğlu & Yıldırım. State broadcaster TRT is now openly biased and those who claim to be mainstream are not independent either."

According to pro-government Yeni Şafak daily, the time of Imamoğlu-Yıldırım TV debate for state broadcaster TRT will be announced on Monday.

AKP's Mahir Ünal and CHP's Engin Altay announced the compromise reached for holding Turkey's first political TV debate in two decades between Yıldırım and Imamoğlu ahead of upcoming repeat Istanbul Elections. Debate will be held on June 16 at 9 pm in Lütfi Kırdar Congress Centre.

The moderator during the TV debate of AKP's Yıldırım and CHP's Imamoğlu will be FOX News' Ismail Küçükkaya.

CHP's Imamoğlu tweeted, "I will be happy to discuss all aspects of Istanbul on June 16 at 9 pm under moderation of Ismail Küçükkaya. Best of luck Binali Yıldırım."

AKP's Yıldırım also tweeted, "may this debate lead to the best for Istanbulites"

Government ally MHP leader Bahçeli, "I am unable to understand why Küçükkaya has been chosen to become the moderator of Imamoğlu-Yıldırım debate on TV."

Imamoğlu commented on the scheduling of TV debate with his opponent Yıldırım, "it was a call which I made as I believe would benefit democratic process in our country. I am so happy that it is taking place. God-willing this will be a good conversation."

Journalist İsmail Küçükkaya, "this is a historic responsibility for me. I will ask all the questions that the people are wondering."

Experienced journalist Uğur Dündar commented on Küçükkaya as moderator of Imamoğlu-Yıldırım debate, "he will not side with anyone and who knows what kind of a lynching campaign will begin that evening. We must all do what we should to stop that."

Journalist İsmail Küçükkaya was claimed to have sent the questions to Yıldırım, "I have not spoken to Imamoğlu and there are no questions I have prepared so far. Mr. Yıldırım did not ask the questions from me and he can not. I would not give my questions to anyone."

While it is a matter of question whether AKP's Yıldırım asked for the questions beforehand regarding the TV debate that will take place on Sunday night, it was revealed that he had been given questions before the NTV-Star joint program.

Journalist Ismail Küçükkaya announced "I will be moderator like a refree in Champions' League games; I will try to make sure the ball stays in the game for as long as it can be."

Turkey's first TV debate in two decades between two rival politicians with participation of AKP candidate Yıldırım and CHP candidate Imamoğlu will take place today on all TV channels with Küçükkaya's moderation; live-tweeting will take place on #dokuz8NEWS at 9 pm [Turkish Time].

Prior to the debate between AKP's Yıldırım and CHP's Imamoğlu, Yıldırım was asked if he had any special preparations. Yıldırım said "my preparations have been ready for the last 16 years."

Half an hour before the TV debate between AKP's Yıldırım & CHP's Imamoğlu begins, members of the press are waiting for the arrival of candidates at the press lodge in front of Lütfi Kırdar Congress Centre in Istanbul.
#dokuz8/@GokhanBicici

CHP's Ekrem Imamoğlu has entered Lütfi Kırdar Congress Centre, "I wish happy fathers day to all fathers. Everything is going to be alright".
#BYvsEİ
#dokuz8/@acikgozdilaraa

AKP's Yıldırım arrived only 3 minutes before scheduled start of live TV debate with CHP's Imamoğlu in Istanbul's Lütfi Kırdar Congress Centre. Yıldırım also congratulated #FathersDay.
#BYvsEİ
#dokuz8/@acikgozdilaraa

Turkey's first TV debate between two political rivals in two decades between AKP's Yıldırım and CHP's Imamoğlu has begun.
#WatchLIVE #BYvsEİ

TV debate between AKP's Yıldırım and CHP's Imamoğlu is being broadcast on all TV channels, available online in Turkish and English as well as sign language.

At the beginning of the debate, Imamoğlu said "prior to March 31 we had the same request to hold a debate on TV but it was only possible now."
#BYvsEİ

At the beginning of the TV debate between AKP's Yıldırım and CHP's Imamoğlu have exchanged #FathersDay gifts.
#BYvsEİ

Moderator Ismail Küçükkaya announced the ground rules, "the program will last for 2 hours with a 10 minute interval; for each question candidates will each have 3 minute response time. Neither candidate shall intervene with the other."

First question is on why Istanbul Elections is being repeated.
Yıldırım, "there was something shady and Supreme Election Council has ruled for repeat of elections. Our desire was for total recount but the votes have been stolen."

#BYvsEİ
Yıldırım: "the ballots were stolen"
Küçükkaya: "who stole?"
Yıldırım: "it is the Supreme Election Council that should find who stole"

Imamoğlu was asked the same question, "it is pure wrong that CHP did not want a total recount."

Imamoğlu:
"At 11.25 pm Mr. Yıldırım announced that he is the winner; simultaneously at that minute state owned Anadolu News Agency stopped synching the data on vote count. AKP local chair also appeared on TV at that moment."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu also added, "in the 57 ballot boxes where they have probed the ballots, CHP has increased its votes."
#BYvsEİ

Second question was on why only one of the four ballots in the same envelope was cancelled.
Imamoğlu: "there are 4 ballots and 3 are fine, but one is shady. How come? No one would believe that. This sounds like quarter of your ₺20 bill is invalid. Could that be so?"

AKP's Yıldırım, "the issue about 4 ballots in the same envelope is a tricky one. Objection is for metropolitan seat but there are other objections for districts as well. Objected ballots would be re-counted. This is as simple as that."
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "Mr. Imamoğlu claims they have not objected to total re-count. This is a huge lie; CHP never accepted our request for total re-count."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "the repeat elections for Istanbul is a struggle for democratic process; this is no longer just a municipal election."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu: "Anadolu News Agency has manipulated the people on the evening of March 31."
Küçükkaya: "Why did they stop synching data on ballot count?"
Imamoğlu: "They did not like the results."
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "one thing I cannot tolerate in life is lies Mr. Imamoğlu. How do I know why Anadolu News Agency stopped synching the data?"
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "we have done so much for Istanbul in 25 years time. In 1994 there was 14 liters of water available per Istanbulite, now it is 104 liters."
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "they have promised reduction in water bills, so did we. The AKP group has proposed this in the municipal council and our alliance supported it."

Imamoğlu, "the reason why gap has closed in re-count is that you have conducted a wrong campaign. You said 'stamp the light bulb' meaning the logo of your party and people did so; which resulted in invalidation of their ballot. In re-count it was counted as valid."
#BYvsEİ

Candidates were granted a question to ask eachother, Imamoğlu asked "what does it mean to you that Anadolu Agency stopped synching the data; why did you put up AKP's victory banners all over Istanbul with your photo on?"
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "I accept, it was not the right move that Anadolu Agency stopped synching and they must explain what this happened but this does not concern me. But is there anything more natural than declaring victory when we won in 24 of 39 districts of Istanbul?"
#BYvsEİ

AKP's Yıldırım asked Imamoğlu "why did you give an order to create a copy of data files at the municipal archives and did you know that this is breach of rights of the people and their privacy?"
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu responded, "when asked about this matter Mr. Yıldırım had said 'a mayor must know everything about his municipality'. I repeat, this was creating a back-up of the data and in order to do that, one needs to copy files."

Imamoğlu added, "while this is just purely a back-up of the files, we were unable to conduct it. We were receiving complaints and reports about the archives."

The TV debate between AKP's Yıldırım and CHP's Imamoğlu has gone into an interval and will be back shortly...
#BYvsEİ

In the first part of the debate between two candidates for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Imamoğlu has declared his discontent regarding Yıldırım's interventions during Imamoğlu's time.
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "copying the data is different than creating a back up; especially appointing people from outside is outrageous in state mentality. Copying data, is a tactic by Gülenist FETÖ."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "objection to the election results is a right, no one can ignore that but we would never file objections based on made up excuses."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu responded to Yıldırım's Gülenist FETÖ claims, "I would not know any such thing as I have no experience with it."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "if they wish to see how private data can be breached and used, they can look at how AKP is given lists of restricted voters, this is private information."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "they called us Pontian... They called us terrorist... How did this never draw anyone's attention?"
#BYvsEİ

AKP's Yıldırım has accused Ekrem Imamoğlu of being a chronic liar, "I am watching him in shock; Mr. Imamoğlu says he does not like lies but he has made it a habit of never telling the truth."
#BYvsEİ

Binali Yıldırım, "Mr. Imamoğlu says one thing and it gets refuted right afterwards; he claimed Saadet Party candidate's son was fired from İGDAŞ but he himself said this does not reflect the reality."
#BYvsEİ

https://twitter.com/dokuz8_EN/status/1138065798101180416

During the TV debate, AKP's Yıldırım said "I am competent with technology; it was us who decorated the country with internet networks and technological infrastructure."
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım: "there is talk of reassigning funds to foundations & associations. Municipalities cannot reassign such funds. These foundations are constructing student dorms, conduct social awareness projects."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "we consider people's rights highly. If he so wishes, I can forward the report published by Audits Court on the issue of reassigning municipal funds to foundations and associations."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "there is unnecessary use of official vehicles. Except for the side-investments, directly at the municipality there are 1.810 official vehicles, one for every seven people at the building. We will prevent such wastefulness."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "I am not against NGOs but I have faith in state. Can I not construct a dorm that I donate hundreds of millions of liras to a foundation? Why do I need them? I would collaborate with them but not give them such funds."

Moderator Küçükkaya asked whether or not AKP's Yıldırım has read the report published by Audits Court, Yıldırım responded "no I have not."

Yıldırım, "we are establishing a tech-base which will be based on Big Data to process it where we can also employ young people. This will be in Pendik and thousands will be employed."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "currently one third of the youth is unemployed in Istanbul; our primary focus should be on wasteful management. We are going to struggle against poverty without wasting the municipal funds."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu: "one in every four families are living below hunger level; to such families we will supply as much as the minimum wage and these funds will be managed by the mother of the household."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "we will remove partisan politics from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality".
#BYvsEİ

Candidates were asked if they and their families would declare their wealth if they get elected. Yıldırım responded “it is not optional, I have been declaring it for the last 16 years all the time but declaring this to public is not a tradition.”
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "declaration of wealth must be done as a family; I have a wife and children. The same goes for Mr. Yıldırım too."
#BYvsEİ

Candidates were asked what they would do in terms of refugee & migrant integration, Imamoğlu answered "there is currently no such policy at the municipality but we will initiate this. A person might be from my party, but if he is involved with discrimination, this is wrong."

Yıldırım also responded, "sorry to say that but if Syrians engage in matters that disturb Istanbulites, we would pick and send them away."
#BYvsEİ

Regarding urban development, AKP's Yıldırım said "what matters is not to make promises but to keep them. I never promise something if I cannot do it but deliver results if I promise".

https://twitter.com/dokuz8_EN/status/1138038826989961219

Imamoğlu: "Today promising responsibility is ours"
Yıldırım: "Why so, I am also a candidate"
Imamoğlu: "Because you have been governing for the last 25 years"
#BYvsEİ

Moderator Küçükkaya has been criticized for not asking about Yıldırım's involvement with Gülen which Yıldırım refuted saying "never met nor had anything to do with him."

Yıldırım had even participated Fethullah Gülen's brother Hasbi Nidai Gülen's funeral.
#BYvsEİ

In response to Yıldırım's call, Anadolu News Agency announced "we are only synching data regarding the results and it is Supreme Election Council that announces results."
#BYvsEİ

https://twitter.com/dokuz8_EN/status/1140333299346395137

Another interval has been announced during the TV debate between Imamoğlu and Yıldırım before closing remarks.

Imamoğlu, "this is a city of the youth and children; one of our priorities will be them. 75.000 students both coming to Istanbul and departing will be given ₺400 for 8 months during their studies."
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "the youth are my buddies. I made a call to the youth and received positive reactions."
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "we will start 10 new youth centres across the city, we will establish a centre for world languages where youth can take language courses free of charge."

Imamoğlu proposed family photo for a more peaceful Istanbul, "I wish to give a photo of two families including the ladies if possible" which Yıldırım also agreed.
#BYvsEİ

Imamoğlu, "as promised, for the last 6 months I have never uttered a bad word and complete this process with a clean record."
#BYvsEİ

Yıldırım, "for the first time in decades, Istanbul's population has shrank, by 60.000 last year. That is because we have developed Anatolia so well that people are moving back to their hometown."
#BYvsEİ

Turkey's first TV debate in two decades with participation of two most popular candidates has ended.

The İmamoğlu and Yıldırım families have joined the moderator İsmail Küçükkaya for a family photo.
#BYvsEİ