A harsh response from Vice President Yılmaz to Özgür Özel: In fact, he is labeling the people as coup plotters.

06.04.2025 17:51

At the CHP's 21st Extraordinary Congress, a strong reaction came from Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to Özgür Özel's remarks about "junta." Yılmaz stated, "Calling what the people have elected a 'junta' essentially characterizes the people as 'junta members.'"

Özgür Özel was re-elected as the chairman of the CHP at the party's 21st Extraordinary Congress. The ruling party reacted strongly to Özel's "Coup" remarks at the congress.

VICE PRESIDENT YILMAZ'S REACTION TO ÖZEL'S "COUP" REMARKS

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated the following in a social media post: "The leader of the main opposition party accuses our President, who was elected with more than fifty percent of the votes in the May 2023 elections, and our government of being a 'coup'! Calling what the people have elected a 'coup' essentially labels the people as 'coup plotters.' It disregards the national will. This language is not a reflection of democratic politics but rather of the current manifestation of a tutelary tradition. It is merely a projection of the longing for a 'coup' within."

"IT SHOWS THAT HE WILL EXERT ALL KINDS OF PRESSURE"

This language, which belittles the base of the AK Party and the People's Alliance and lacks political courtesy, already indicates that it will exert all kinds of extremism and pressure whenever it finds the opportunity. This opposition language, which aims to create tension, polarization, and division, will yield nothing but harm to the main opposition party, our country, and our democracy. The irresponsible and aggressive style of politics will, as it has many times in the past, receive the necessary democratic response from our people at the ballot boxes when the time comes.

"RESPONSIBLE OPPOSITION CANNOT UNDERMINE THE ECONOMY"

On the other hand, the ugly tone displayed towards our Minister of Treasury and Finance is unacceptable. This approach means undermining our economic stability, damaging the environment of trust, and threatening the welfare of our people. Responsible opposition requires supporting economic policies with constructive criticism for the welfare of 85 million people, not undermining the economy.

No matter what irresponsible politicians say; under the resolute leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and with the prayers and support of our nation, we will continue to build the Century of Turkey. We will walk towards new goals on the path of democracy and development, achieve a Terror-Free Turkey, protect our national interests with an effective foreign policy, and while steadfastly implementing our economic program, we will continue to work with all our strength to increase the welfare of our people.

MINISTER OF JUSTICE TUNÇ: IT IS AN ADMISSION OF INTOLERANCE TOWARDS OUR NATION'S WILL

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated the following in his remarks: "The ugly statements directed at our President by the leader of the Republican People's Party, through the judicial investigations conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, are merely an attempt to divert attention, create perception, and put pressure on the judiciary. To call the first President elected by the people's votes, who served the longest uninterrupted term as Prime Minister, 'the coup president' is a denial of democratic legitimacy and an admission of intolerance towards our nation's will."

"OUR NATION HAS THE WISDOM TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST TUTELAGE AND THOSE WHO GROW IN ITS SHADOW"

Our esteemed nation, which has engraved the 'Yassıada Mentality' that walks hand in hand with the tutelage regime and produces politics under the shadow of coup periods in their memories, has the wisdom to distinguish between those who fight against tutelage and those who grow in its shadow. Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has fought alongside his nation against memorandums, street uprisings, and the bloody coup attempt on July 15, protected democracy, and buried the understanding of coup plotters in history.

What falls to the leader of the CHP is to contribute to the realization of justice by advising his friends, who are subject to judicial investigations, to account for themselves before the judiciary, rather than trying to influence the judicial process, and to use their right to defense against the allegations made.

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR ALTUN: ACTING LIKE AN ORGANIZED EVIL NETWORK

Communication Director Fahrettin Altun stated the following in his remarks: "The leader of the main opposition is resorting to all kinds of distortion, manipulation, and slander methods to cover up the factional wars within his party, suppress the reactions of the party base, and make corruption and scandal allegations invisible. He is acting like an organized evil network to polarize society, discredit the political institution, and legitimize a language that is at odds with our nation's values."

"IT IS POLITICAL IMMORALITY"

Those whose political history is filled with coups, tutelage centers, and anti-democratic interventions; to insult our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has dedicated his life to the will of the nation and has fought resolutely against tutelage centers, with immoral and disrespectful insults like 'coup president' is, at the very least, political immorality and a lack of awareness. Our President has stood by the people against all tutelage attempts from February 28 to April 27, from December 17-25 to July 15, defended democracy, and fortified civil politics. Those who long for a coup, who engage in political engineering through the judiciary and media, will see the 'coup' mentality they seek when they look in the mirror.

Our nation has witnessed many times how this tutelary understanding has waged a power struggle through informal politics and parallel structures within its party. This witnessing continues, and every plot set against the national will is condemned in the conscience of the nation.

Our nation knows well the mentality displayed on May 27, September 12, February 28, and July 15, and continues to give the modern representatives of this mentality the response they deserve at the ballot box and in every legitimate arena. Under the resolute leadership of our President, who stands firmly by the truth, the nation, and democracy, we continue on our path towards the goals of the Century of Turkey.