14.09.2025 18:50
The Republican People's Party held a mass rally at Tandoğan Square in Ankara. Just before the convention trial, CHP Chairman Özel stated, "Let's make the legal arrangement in the Parliament that will open on October 1. Let's allocate a channel on TRT to broadcast this trial live," calling for the trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu to be aired live.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated regarding the Ekrem İmamoğlu case, "Let's make the legal arrangement in the Parliament that will open on October 1. Let's allocate a channel on TRT to this court. Let's provide the broadcast to all private television channels that want it."
The Republican People's Party held a mass rally in Ankara's Tandoğan Square. In the rally that took place just before the convention case, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel delivered a striking speech.
CALL FOR PARLIAMENT ON THE IMAMOĞLU CASE
In his speech, Özel made remarks about the trial of detained Ekrem İmamoğlu, stating, "Let's make the legal arrangement in the Parliament that will open on October 1. Let's allocate a channel on TRT to this court. Let's provide the broadcast to all private television channels that want it."
"WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF DEMOCRACY, ALL DEMOCRATS OF TURKEY"
Özel also stated in his speech, "In all the processes we have experienced recently, starting with the visit of the Democratic Party, which we first handed over power to, with the visits of the DEM Party, the Victory Party, the visit requests and good wishes of the New Welfare Party, the shares and calls from the İYİ Party, DEVA, the Future Party, and the Felicity Party, alongside our friends in the field like the Turkey Workers' Party, EMEP, and the SOL Party, all democrats of Turkey, we are on the side of democracy."
"WE WILL BRING BOTH DEMOCRACY AND PEACE"
Özel stated, "Those who established an authoritarian regime with elections are now eager to transition to a dictatorship without elections," and added: "They are attacking the Republic inherited from Atatürk, democracy, and the ballot box. They are attacking the multi-party regime. This government does not want democracy. They know that if there is democracy, they will not be able to come out of the ballot box. They know that if there is justice, they will not be able to cover their crimes. They know that if there is peace, they will not be able to polarize this nation. I swear that we will bring justice, democracy, and peace."
"THE GOVERNMENT HAS DESCENDED TO THE WORST PATH"
CHP Chairman also stated: "The nation has withdrawn its support from this government; the nation has relied on a government that cares about its own troubles. The nation has embraced the municipalities that care for its children and has decided on the Republican People's Party, which promises change to Turkey in the last elections. Our party has become the first party in Turkey after 47 years.
Instead of respecting the nation's decision, looking for the fault within themselves, and competing with us in service, they have descended to the worst path, the most terrible path. The government that cannot promise hope to the nation has preferred to stay in power by scaring and pressuring the people. They are trying this today. Our nation is paying heavy prices. This understanding detained our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19. While he was nominated as a presidential candidate with 15.5 million voters, they put him behind iron bars.
"THEY COULD NOT SHOW THE RESPECT WE SHOWED TO DEMOCRACY FOR 47 YEARS IN 47 DAYS"
Our party has been the target of coups for years. It was closed, our chairpersons were arrested, but we overcame every difficulty with our nation. It lasted 47 years; we became the second party, but we could not become the first party. However, we did not deviate from democracy. This was not a war; it was a competition. We said, 'It ended tonight.' We said, 'There is no loser in this election; there is a winner.' When Ekrem President in Istanbul and Mansur President in Ankara worked together and won the hearts of the people, getting ahead in the polls...
Those against us were supposed to show the patience, resilience, and respect for democracy that we showed for 47 years for 47 months. There were 47 months left until the general elections' calendar began from that day. Not 47 months, they could not endure for 47 days. They got off the democracy train at the first defeat. They launched an attack that surpassed other autocracies in the world."