28.01.2026 23:17
The Chairman of the Republican People's Party, Özgür Özel, made striking statements at a rally organized by his party in Bağcılar. Addressing President Erdoğan, Özel said they were ready to renew the municipal elections in Istanbul in March, stating, "If you are going to do it at the end of March in Istanbul, I am ready to have all my municipal council members resign and to renew all municipal elections in Istanbul. My candidate is clear; Ekrem İmamoğlu."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel announced that they are ready to renew the municipal elections in Istanbul, addressing President Erdoğan.
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the 'Defending the Will of the Nation' rally organized by his party in Bağcılar.
"I AM READY TO RENEW ALL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN ISTANBUL"
Özel called out to President Erdoğan, stating that they are ready to renew the municipal elections in Istanbul in March. "In front of you is someone who has won elections for years with our mistakes, who always comes out before every election and boasts, 'If I am not the first party, I will leave politics.' Now I ask that person. Hey Erdoğan, where is your promise to leave if you are not the first party?" Özel continued:
"I promised at the congress, I made my party the first party in the first election. I took 65% of the municipalities in Turkey. I say it again. If my party is not the first party in any election I enter, if my party is not in power, I will leave politics at that moment. Bring it on. But you always avoid this election. Those videos are circulating, 'What am I doing in politics if I am not the first party?' You became the second party, you lost, and you are still standing. You go begging for legitimacy from Trump. From here, I call out to Erdoğan from Bağcılar. Supposedly, not anymore, but I am calling from your old stronghold, Bağcılar. If you have the courage, come. Not with the prosecutors you appointed, not with the judges you arranged. Let's go before the great court, in front of the nation. I declare from here. At the end of March, if you are going to do it in Istanbul, I am ready to have all my municipal council members resign and renew all municipal elections in Istanbul. My candidate is clear; Ekrem İmamoğlu."
"IF EKREM PRESIDENT WINS THE ELECTION, WE WANT YOU TO GET OFF OUR BACKS"
Özel also stated: "Whomever you trust. You brought out the Prime Minister, we defeated him. You brought out the Speaker of the Parliament, we defeated him. You brought out this incompetent, 'Empty Promissory Note' Murat Kurum, the mafioso Murat, we defeated him. Whoever you trust. My candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu. Whether it's TikTok star Hakan, the son-in-law, or the child. Bring whoever you want against us. Let Istanbul decide. If you win the election, we will leave politics. But if Ekrem President wins the election, we want you to get off our backs. Bring it on. You were saying Erdoğan last year during the March 19 coup.
"IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF COURAGE, YOU WILL CALL FOR EARLY ELECTIONS"
You said, 'In a month, they won't be able to show their faces in public.' Look, I am in Bağcılar. I am in the presence of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. You said, 'They won't be able to look each other in the face.' Look, I am looking into the faces of the most beautiful people in the world. You said, 'They won't be able to look each other in the eye.' Just as we look into each other's eyes, I am looking into your eyes and saying, 'Are you up for it; on Sunday, March 29, let a great court be established in front of all Istanbul. Ekrem İmamoğlu is my candidate. You can find whoever you want against him. If we win, early elections are coming; if you win, I will leave politics. Bring it on, are you up for it?' Coward, are you up for it? Come face us. It won't work by slandering innocent people. Don't be afraid, if you have courage, come face us on March 29. If you have a lot of courage, you will call for early elections; otherwise, let the people of Istanbul decide, bring it on."