14.02.2025 19:00
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, made a striking claim. Özel stated, "If they eventually come to the point of closing down their political rivals, I wouldn't be surprised. Because they themselves have been subject to closure cases. In the end, they will close down whoever they see as dangerous. They are trying to bring things to this point."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited Saadet Party Chairman Mahmut Arıkan at the party's headquarters. After a meeting that lasted about 1 hour, Özel and Arıkan made a statement. Özel congratulated the Saadet Party on its recent congress process and expressed their wishes for success to Arıkan in his new role.
ÖZEL: WHERE IS TÜSİAD UNJUST? Responding to questions, Özel commented on the investigation launched against Ömer Aras, the Chairman of the High Advisory Council of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), saying, "TÜSİAD is not saying anything new. This is not the first time TÜSİAD has said this; we all say it, unions say it, the workers' organization says it. Now the employers' organization has said it. Which of the things they said, 'These are happening,' has not happened in Turkey? From the fire that broke out in a hotel where people were staying, resulting in the loss of so many lives, to their statements regarding the right to life, judicial independence, and investigations, where is TÜSİAD unjust? The investigation opened today has confirmed the statement made by the TÜSİAD President yesterday. In which country in the world does such a statement result in an investigation? If the equivalent institution of TÜSİAD in Germany made this statement and criticized the government, would such an investigation be opened? Would it be opened in England, France, or developed democracies? So, what is the national income of these countries where investigations are not opened?" he stated.
"THERE ARE POLLS SHOWING 70% DEMAND FOR EARLY ELECTIONS" Özel, regarding the discussions on early elections, said, "Mr. Erdoğan said, 'There is no such demand or problem in the country.' He must be referring to the countries he has visited. There is certainly no such situation in Malaysia. We have it here. Welcome to our midst; let him ask, let him go out to the streets. I invite Erdoğan, who loves the hall and warmth, to go out and ask the voters. There are already polls that have been conducted. There are polls that we all subscribe to, which go to all parties. Let him see where the demand for early elections, which was around 30% and 25% on March 31, has climbed to now. There are polls showing 65%, 70%. If Mr. Erdoğan says, 'The public does not demand early elections,' let him go down and ask the retirees who are facing skyrocketing prices. Let him go and ask the minimum wage earners who cannot even pass in front of the butcher's shop, or let him ask the tradespeople who cannot collect their debts." he said.
Referring to the process of determining his party's presidential candidate, Özel continued his remarks as follows: "In the political style we understand, it would be right for parties to inform each other if they are experiencing processes that concern the public and could have future consequences for the country. When determining our presidential candidate, the chairman of a political party is a natural candidate. Mr. Babacan and Mr. Erbakan expressed these in the New Welfare Party. But since I am not a candidate myself, we are describing a process while determining a candidate in my place. We have also had the opportunity to inform about this process.
"WE MADE A MISTAKE BY DETERMINING THE CANDIDATE LATE" But the essence of our visit is a 'congratulations' visit. Besides this, we are already in agreement on being in constant communication, meeting more frequently, and going to each other. We made a mistake in the last election by determining the candidate too late. But we also made a mistake by talking about the alliance too early. If the alliance is needed, it will definitely be evaluated when the time comes. The ongoing process is the process of the Republican People's Party determining its own presidential candidate. We do not have an approach like 'We are determining the candidate of the social opposition; it will be like this.' However, we attach great importance to all opposition parties. To keep social opposition together and to be together with them, we do not have a patronage demand. We are ready to work and struggle together with all opposition."
In response to a question regarding President Erdoğan's statement, "CHP mayors are in conflict among themselves; we are focusing on our work," Özel said: "He has stated what should be done; but he has not said what he should do. They are not doing it. Today, I could not appoint Akın Gürlek to Istanbul. Akın Gürlek has changed many courts in Istanbul and perhaps has committed one of the most mobilized judicial acts in world history. Then he received his reward. He came to the position of deputy minister, which Erdoğan describes as a political position. I am not the one who says, 'In the past, ministers were political, undersecretaries were technical. Now ministers are technical, their assistants are political.' If a judge or prosecutor resigns to enter politics, they cannot return to their position.
"WHOEVER THEY SEE AS DANGEROUS WILL BE CLOSED" Erdoğan's political rivals are being systematically eliminated. Today, democracy in Turkey is against the judicial coup. Then he says, 'I have nothing to do with it. I do not interfere. Political bans are not my job,' while he himself is a victim of political bans. Those who came to power by narrating their political ban victimization are now doing the same to their rivals, that is, they are doing to others what they have experienced. While we thought they would learn from the oppression they witnessed and make this country a democratic one, they are doing even worse than what they experienced. If they eventually come to close down political parties that are their rivals, I would not be surprised. Because they themselves were subjected to closure cases. In the end, see, whoever they see as dangerous will be closed. They are trying to bring it to this point.
"WE WILL MOVE FORWARD" We are in a very special process to not submit to this. Erdoğan has declared war on us, and now he is fighting with us. We must do what we need to do politically with all our strength, effort, and power. Against his agenda squeezing us here, the agenda of early elections is; how will this country become prosperous, how will these people's hunger be satisfied, how will this poverty and misery end, how will the retirees get a raise, where will the minimum wage go? We are here to discuss these issues vigorously. He should not think that we will continue to talk about his judicial harassment. We will do what is necessary. We will move forward, we will look ahead. Bring it on. Let him do whatever he wants.