12.05.2026 15:21
CHP leader Özgür Özel, reacting with harsh words to Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal who switched to AK Party ranks, said: 'Two years won't be easy, but they won't pass quickly either. When the Republican People's Party comes to power, don't come begging at our door. I'm issuing the ultimate threat, damn it.' During his speech, Özel pounded the table and knocked over the glass in front of him.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel harshly criticized Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal, who switched to the AK Party, during his party's group meeting. Clearly furious, Özel spoke while pounding the table.
Here is Özel's statement on the matter;
"Now, the end of the line. At 3 PM, the bell rings. The Deputy Group Chairman goes to represent Atatürk's party there. I did that job. It was one of the most honorable duties I ever did. I did it for 9 years. I did it without a word. I did it without bringing any criticism to my party. My friends are doing those duties properly with all their efforts. Someone who sat in that seat. And someone who sat next to me for years while I was sometimes in that seat. Someone who says on every TV show, 'My mentor raised me.' When we said, 'We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers, you are Trikopis' soldiers,' I tried to stop her by saying, 'Stop, Burcu. We can be rivals to a party of the Republic of Turkey, we may see hostility, but you cannot call it the party of the Greek army.'
"YOU CHOSE ATATÜRK'S ENEMIES"
At every opportunity, you are the party of those who said, 'Fesli Deli Kadir went to Atatürk's funeral, you scoundrels.' I said, 'Don't do it, Burcu.' When she said of a female deputy from Izmir, 'I won't feel right unless I kill her,' or when she attacked the AK Party Deputy Group Chairman with curses, we barely restrained her... Didn't she say, 'Is it the party of Iskilipli Atıf?' When a lieutenant joins that group, you chose Atatürk's enemies, you chose Iskilipli, you chose Fesli Deli Kadir, you chose Trikopis' supporters. We are leaving you to your party that protects you, he said.
Now, just like the previous 'Topuklu Efe' incident, either you join the AK Party or you'll be jailed like the others. In one day, while visiting our mayors and saying the nicest things, I call and say, 'They came to you yesterday,' and he says, 'He was so happy, he couldn't stop praising you.' She comes out and says, 'I had no room for politics in the party.' I put you in this seat. We placed you in those positions, in these positions. We held rallies. I held three rallies in Afyon. She won the election; we visited her to congratulate her first. Just so she could hold Afyon. She says, 'They didn't forget the past. They nominated someone to unseat me.' When nominating, she said, 'I can't win Afyon, let me not leave the Deputy Group Chairmanship.' I said, 'Don't leave; if you lose, your spot is ready, but you will win.' I believed it first. First me, then her.
"SHE KISSED ME MANY TIMES"
The other day, her mother got sick. Her mother is probably watching me now. I joke with the auntie. About how the commander's batteries haven't run out in 6 years. Only Halk TV is on. She watches every group crying, has had MS since she was 2 years old. Last time, amid rumors of her joining the AK Party, she was stiff, having a nervous breakdown. I visited my auntie at her home 2 months ago. I kissed her hand. She kissed me many times. That mother, and after that, she took me to dinner. Every time, praises, praises, praises, praises. Now she says, 'There was no room for politics there.' In her last speech to the AK Party group, she says, 'You insulted my mother, who has MS, and the AK Party group applauded.'
She expects that when she goes to Afyon tomorrow, she's not joining Mustafa Kemal's party group, but the group of those who applauded the one who insulted her mother—and she challenges, 'Come on, take me in, you called me corrupt, a bribe-taker, a swindler, I won't surrender, take me to jail'—she goes to that group. And she says, and she says, 'Özgür Özel threatened me.' I only told her this: On her departure 6 months ago, I said, 'If you doubt your husband, leave him; this party will be your family and protect you. I don't believe you're a thief.' That's that.
"IF THIS IS A THREAT, I'M MAKING IT PRIME"
This time, I said, 'Ms. Burcu, 2 years won't be easy, but they'll pass quickly. When the Republican People's Party comes to power, don't you dare come begging at our door.' If this is a threat, I'm making it prime, damn it! I'm making it prime! If this is a threat, I'm making it prime! Go ahead. The Republican People's Party is not the party of those who cower at threats or surrender, but of those who stand up together and march to power. This party's march to power began by walking over bayonets. It began with those who walked with open hearts and chests against enemy bullets. Let's walk, friends! Let the dark ones stay behind. We're marching to power, friends."