Unprecedented Republic Celebration in Bursa

The 101st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic was celebrated together by all of Bursa in Nilüfer. The “Republic Walk,” organized for the first time this year by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Nilüfer Municipality, brought hundreds of thousands together at FSM. After the walk, where the people of Bursa stood united for the Republic, artist Candan Erçetin performed, bringing the citizens of Bursa a magnificent festive spirit.

Bursa hosted the most magnificent Republic Day celebrations ever organized. Hundreds of thousands of Bursa residents showed how they embraced the Republic by participating in the Republic Walk held annually in Nilüfer. The “Republic Walk,” organized this year for the first time by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Nilüfer Municipality, featured stunning visuals. The lovers of the Republic filled FSM Boulevard from end to end, holding Atatürk and Turkish flags. Hundreds of thousands of Bursa residents came together for the Republic, marching with songs and chants. The walk, which started at the Acıbadem Intersection on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Boulevard, began with the arrival of Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and his wife Seden Bozbey, along with Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir and his wife Nuray Özdemir.

Before the walk, Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and Mayor Şadi Özdemir made a joint statement, indicating that the walk organized together by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Nilüfer Municipality on the 101st anniversary of the Republic is the best example of unity. Emphasizing that this country will overcome every difficulty together, Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and Mayor Şadi Özdemir stated that the increased interest in the Republic walk, which is associated with Nilüfer this year, demonstrates that the people embrace the Republic more than ever. They expressed that they are setting an example for Turkey by continuing the tradition not in halls, but in public spaces, declaring to the world that now all 86 million people support the Republic.

After the two mayors’ statements, the enthusiastic walk began. Along with Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and his wife Seden Bozbey, and Mayor Şadi Özdemir and his wife Nuray Özdemir, CHP Provincial Chairman Nihat Yeşiltaş, CHP Bursa Members of Parliament Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu, Hazar Öztürk, Kayıhan Pala, and Orhan Sarıbal, Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, Istanbul Planning Agency (İPA) President Buğra Gökçe, CHP district chairpersons, municipal council members, municipal bureaucrats, NGO representatives, and all segments of society participated. The boulevard turned into a sea of people, with citizens of all ages holding flags. Due to the extraordinary interest, the walk progressed slowly, enriched with the slogans and marches of citizens singing ‘Long Live the Republic’ shoulder to shoulder.

The hospital area was filled to capacity.

The second address of the celebrations was the Hospital Area, where the walk ended. The celebrations in the Hospital Area began with Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir greeting the public. In the celebration program hosted by Ceyhun Fersoy, hundreds of thousands of people who filled the area and streets observed a moment of silence and then simultaneously recited the National Anthem. During the celebration, which was filled with excitement, Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir took the stage with his wife Nuray Özdemir to give a Republic Day speech.

“The Republic is Ours”

Starting his speech by celebrating the Republic Day of the people of Bursa, Şadi Özdemir stated, “Today, we must embrace the Republic more than ever.” Condemning the treacherous terrorist attack that occurred last week and stating that this attack would not achieve its purpose, Şadi Özdemir continued his speech:
“Now is the time to be united and hold on to each other tightly. Let it not be forgotten that no power can disrupt the integrity of our country. No power can achieve its treacherous goals on this land. We are the children of the Republic. We stand tall against any form of terrorism, regardless of where it comes from. We will embrace the integrity, independence, and the principles and revolutions of Atatürk more than ever.”

Stating that they will protect the Republic, which the Great Leader Atatürk called ‘My greatest work,’ Mayor Şadi Özdemir said, “Persisting in the Republic is persisting in freedom. We will never give up on this insistence, this hope, this belief. In this beautiful country, everyone will be equal and free. In this beautiful country, no power will be above the will of the people. We are working hard to take our Nilüfer and Bursa further. We strive to be worthy of the Republic. The Republic is ours, this flag is ours, this country is ours.”

“The owner of the parliamentary podium is the nation.”

Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who took the stage with his wife Seden Bozbey, also congratulated the citizens celebrating Republic Day. Emphasizing that an unforgettable day was experienced in Bursa on October 29, Republic Day, Mayor Bozbey expressed that they felt the honor and excitement of celebrating the 101st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. He stated that they promised to support the Republic as all of Turkey, continuing, “The Republic is a great work that proves that freedom is the greatest value in these lands, and that the power born from unity and the voice rising from brotherhood can overcome all obstacles. The Republic taught us that victories are won not only on the front lines but also in minds and hearts. Everyone should know that the first four articles of our Constitution are the foundation of our Republic. The first four articles are unamendable, even their amendment cannot be proposed. The owner of the parliamentary podium is clear. The owner of that podium is Atatürk and the nation.”

Mayor Bozbey stated that everyone who participated in the walk once again demonstrated that being together, solidarity, and brotherhood are the greatest strengths, saying, “We are resolutely progressing on the path of our Republic filled with peace and tranquility against the ugly face of terrorism. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the bright ideals of our Republic against terrorism and violence. I denounce those who support terrorism and those who seek refuge in it.”

Promising to carry the legacy of the Republic forever, Mayor Bozbey said, “The Republic flourished in the hands of our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and it will continue to grow in our hearts forever.”

Highlighting that Bursa is one of the symbolic cities of Republic history, Mayor Bozbey stated, “With our honorable stance in the national liberation struggle and our determination on the path of enlightenment, we have cemented our place in history. In the second century of the Republic, we will work harder to reach the level of contemporary civilizations shown by our Atatürk.”

Mayor Bozbey concluded his speech with these words:
“How fortunate that 101 years later today, our voice echoes again in all podiums, all streets, and all squares. Here on this podium, as your voice, we once again celebrate the 101st anniversary of our Republic, and we express our gratitude to our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all our heroes. We are determined to keep the Republic alive and learn it anew every day. Dear Atatürk, as your children who will carry your legacy, we shout once again that we learned success from you, we learned freedom from you, we learned victory from you, we learned struggle from you, we learned independence from you, and we learned to smile, most importantly, to make others smile from you. That is why long live the Republic.”

Excitement of the Republic with Candan Erçetin

In the finale of the Republic Day celebrations organized jointly by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Nilüfer Municipality, beloved artist Candan Erçetin took the stage. When the famous artist came on stage, the excitement of the hundreds of thousands of people filling the area reached its peak. Candan Erçetin’s magnificent stage performance provided joyful moments for those celebrating the holiday. Along with many of her songs, the citizens of Bursa sang along with Candan Erçetin, and at the end of the night, Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir thanked her by presenting flowers.