21.05.2026 22:10
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, speaking about the 'absolute nullity' decision regarding the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP, said, "Let them hold a snap election, we are waiting, let them do it, we are waiting. Let them hold the presidential election as soon as possible. Bring the ballot box, we will change the government in this country. Our candidate will be elected President. Let them hold a snap election, we will reveal our candidate, and we will win this election."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel spoke to Deutsche Welle Turkish after the decision of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber regarding the annulment of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention.
LEARNED THE DECISION DURING THE INTERVIEW
Özel learned of the absolute nullity decision during the interview. He paused the conversation, held a brief meeting with his legal staff, gathered information, then decided to call an extraordinary MYK meeting and returned to the interview.
"THIS IS THE FINAL POINT OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN TURKEY"
Özel responded to the question, "You haven't consulted with party bodies yet, but what is your initial comment on the absolute nullity decision?" as follows: "What is happening to the Republican People's Party today, with the nullity case that has been pursued for years now coming to the forefront, shows that the government is trying to paralyze, eliminate, or change the leadership of its only rival that can defeat it in polls—the party that, along with the AK Party, leads with other parties below 10 percent—or at least make that party unable to produce politics and busy with its own problems. This is the final point of authoritarianism in Turkey. It's not necessary to not bring the ballot box or say 'I canceled the elections.' Determining your rival at the ballot box, putting forward a specific rival, changing the management of the rival political party institutionally—all of these are related to that. The operation started with municipalities. They talked about corruption, our candidate was taken. Then it spread and spread. At this point, you are faced with allegations involving private life, and your childhood friend is taken. The target is your circle, actually the target is directly you.
"THE MAIN TARGET IS ME"
The party had two options. One of these options was to accept that the attacks on Ekrem İmamoğlu and the party were not legal processes but political ones. We did not leave our friends alone on this; we believed in them. We said we were waiting to judge the indictment, not to be judged, when there was no indictment. We did not give credit to any of the countless slanders—such as suitcases full of money, meetings held, money found under parquet floors, Ekrem İmamoğlu's cars, cell phones distributed at the convention—none of which appeared in the indictment. We mobilized the opposition voters, and under these conditions, those targeting İmamoğlu saw that they cannot discredit him. On the contrary, his reputation rises, and they turned and said we must target the CHP, therefore we must break the CHP's back. Without breaking Özgür Özel, without breaking Özgür Özel's resistance, without discrediting Özgür Özel, without removing Özgür Özel, we cannot get rid of the CHP. That's why we are in the crosshairs. The main target is me. To intimidate me, to stop me. Haven't they called me many times? Saying come to Ankara and sit at the head of the party. They offered me a comfortable opposition area. But we aimed for power no matter what. Because we aim for power, we are the target of power.
"LET THEM CALL A SURPRISE ELECTION, WE WILL WIN"
Özel also answered the question, "There have been comments that if an absolute nullity decision comes, a surprise election will follow. Do you think a surprise election will come, and what will happen?" with "Let them call a surprise election, we are waiting, let them do it, we are waiting." In response to the question, "Can the CHP recover in the meantime?", Özel said, "We will recover. Shall I tell you something? Let them call a surprise election, we are waiting. Let them hold the presidential election as soon as possible. Bring the ballot box, we will change the government in this country. Our candidate will be elected President. Let them call a surprise election, we will show our candidate, and we will win this election."
"HE IS OUR CANDIDATE UNTIL THE DAY WE CAN NOMINATE İMAMOĞLU"
Özel answered the question about "how the presidential candidate would be shown if Kılıçdaroğlu came as a trustee" by reminding that the party's candidate is clear and is Ekrem İmamoğlu. Özel stated: "The party's candidate is clear. Until the day we can nominate İmamoğlu, he is our candidate. Otherwise, this party will show the candidate who will win the election. That's clear. Apart from that, there is also the option of one hundred thousand signatures to become a presidential candidate. We nominated İmamoğlu with 15.5 million signatures. We stood behind him with 25.5 million signatures. We collected two hundred fifty times the one hundred thousand signatures. We will show a candidate and win this election."
"IT IS TRUE THAT THERE IS A BACKUP PARTY, BUT..."
To the question about "some claims regarding a backup or new party and funds allocated for it, etc., are there such efforts?", Özel replied: "Allocating funds and all that is nonsense, but there is something: it is true that there is a party in reserve, but I was saying this even before the absolute nullity decision. Now that the absolute nullity decision has come out, I say again, this party preparation is not for leaving the party and founding another party. It is a precaution against a possible closure case or a situation where the Republican People's Party is rendered unable to submit its parliamentary candidate lists. I was saying this before the nullity decision, maybe they didn't believe it. Now I say it after the decision as well. That is, this is not a precaution against the nullity decision. This is a preparation made in case of a move to close the party, prevent it from entering elections, or prevent it from entering elections with proper lists."
"THIS PARTY'S CULTURE INCLUDES RESPECT FOR FORMER CHAIRMEN"
Özel continued: "We know you use careful language regarding former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. However, there is also a group that wants harsher treatment of Kılıçdaroğlu and his supporters. Because he shared the 22 MP video. Is it possible to sit down and talk with Kılıçdaroğlu and his team and reach a compromise now? The decision has been made; what are your final thoughts?" He answered as follows: "I come from the screw of the clock in this party. This party's culture includes respect for former chairmen. Even if former chairmen criticize us, we are careful not to criticize them, and I think it is the duty of the current chairman to protect their rights. I have protected this until today. I tried to protect it after yesterday's video and still protect it. In fact, we have always expected the former chairman to make a statement saying, 'In the event of a nullity decision, I will either not accept the duty given by this decision or I will take steps to bring my party to order in the shortest time allowed by law.' We still have that expectation. Apart from that, people who have voted for Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu in elections and have been involved in politics with him for years are making various criticisms about things I have not said. I have always advised that no disrespect should be shown to Mr. Chairman, let alone criticizing him myself or fueling those criticisms. This is the obligation given by my party culture and being the chairman of the party."
{"text":"
\"WE ALWAYS TOOK CARE TO AVOID DIVISION\"
We have always taken care to ensure that no division arises within the party group. It is necessary to reach a consensus on the unity and integrity of the party. There have been many opportunities for this, and questions have been asked to our friends. We have not excluded anyone. I have always given positive messages. Three times in closed meetings, I said, 'In this room, there are those who are right and those who are wrong in past debates. As your chairman, I apologize on behalf of all the wrongdoers to all those who are right.' We proposed and repeatedly stated that from now on, there should be no grievances or resentments, and that we should be together. However, there is a group of friends whom we have never been able to embrace and who constantly keep their distance from us. We interpreted their retweeting of yesterday's statement in the broadest sense, as freedom of thought and expression, and we did not take any action. But we also stated that we will not accept attitudes that now embrace the AK Party's judgment and that would lead to the party being shaped by that judgment."}
"}