27.12.2025 11:25
The removal of İmamoğlu's photo from the CHP's Presidential Candidate Office has brought up claims regarding Özgür Özel's candidacy. Days later, when asked about the candidacy, Özel responded, "My current candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu. If there are attempts to obstruct through the diploma, the CHP will determine its candidate in the most participatory way. I have had no intention of being a presidential candidate from the very beginning, but the CHP's candidate will be strong enough to defeat Erdoğan."
CHP leader Özgür Özel responded to the question, "It is said that Erdoğan wants you as a candidate against him, what would you like to say about this?" with, "My current candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu."
In an interview with Nefes Newspaper, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, when asked, "The reports submitted by the CHP to the process commission were criticized, and it was stated that they were incomplete. What would you like to say about this?" replied, "The CHP had defended the establishment of this commission within its historical consistency. Despite the many difficulties we have experienced, we stood on principle in this commission. The report we submitted to the commission received various criticisms from some circles. There were criticisms from the MHP and the DEM Party, but there were also approaches from many writers, artists, and intellectual circles who acknowledged the rights of the CHP."
"STEPS TOWARDS SOLVING THE KURDISH ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTERCONNECTEDLY"
Özel continued:
"While reading the reports, there is an understanding that looks at some parties through rose-colored glasses and views the CHP with dark sunglasses. For example, we have seen parties that say 'there is no Kurdish issue' criticize the CHP report that states 'there is a Kurdish issue and it can be solved through democracy.' Here, there is really a problem related to the lens rather than the report itself. There is an approach that overly praises one side and examines the other side with excessive pessimism. Ultimately, the CHP acknowledges the existence of the issue and states that it needs to be solved through democratization. Of course, when specific regulations are needed for the solution of the issue, some call it special law, some call it special regulation, what is important here is to abandon this wrong language regarding prioritization. The understanding that 'the issue will be solved first, and democratization will follow' is incorrect. This is not reassuring for the parties in the opposition, nor for the voters in the opposition, nor for the anxious voters. Therefore, I believe that a process should be operated interdependently. While taking steps towards democratization, it should be considered. In other words, taking steps towards solving the Kurdish issue in all its dimensions interdependently will provide confidence in the process. Our proposal is not sequential but rather the resolution of the issue within the principle of interdependence."
"THE CHP'S PRESENCE IN THE COMMISSION IS VALUED BY EVERYONE"
Özel also answered the question, "The CHP's decision not to go to Imralı has been widely discussed in the public. Do you think this decision was correct?" with the following response:
"Firstly, we do not make decisions like that; we keep an eye on public opinion polls, as do all parties. I do not look at this from the perspective of the party's vote; we have already gained stability there. The CHP's decision was found to be correct among the voters in general, especially its own voters, regarding how citizens interpreted the decision to go to the island. In fact, a group that initially viewed our entry into the commission negatively later reported that they found the CHP's entry into the commission and its decision not to go to the island to be correct. Secondly, the feedback from our MPs in the field and the messages we receive indicate 'you did the right thing.' Thirdly, there are the attitudes and behaviors of other political parties. There were harsh criticisms from parties that made more decisions to go to the island. After going to the island, the importance of the CHP's stance became evident. The process turned into one where even a photo or video from a departing MP was avoided. I had said, 'If we come, we will not shy away from any photo or video. We will not hide that we went.' The CHP's genuine stance resonates with society. I believe voters want to see sincerity behind whatever decision is made, to see the determination behind that decision. Instead of a structure where someone is ashamed of their own decision, there is a party that makes a decision and stands behind it. They tried to treat us as if 'if you do not come to the island, you will leave here.' Now, looking at it, the CHP's presence in the commission is valued by everyone. This means that we made the right decision by not going to the island when entering the commission. Because the CHP could have been in a much more difficult position regarding its presence in this commission if it had gone and then found itself in this position. Now, whatever we propose, we are doing so within historical consistency and maintaining the position we initially described."
The photo of İmamoğlu was removed from the CHP's Presidential Candidate Office."I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ERDOĞAN'S CANDIDATE"
Özel answered the question, "It is said that Erdoğan wants you as a candidate against him, what would you like to say about this?" as follows:
"I am already against Erdoğan. He is the head of the AK Party, the second party, while I am the head of the first party. My current candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu. I would like to hear Erdoğan's candidate. We are already facing Erdoğan. We will compete in the election. Who will be our presidential candidate? Erdoğan should announce it. Despite such a great injustice being done, my candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu. If my candidate leaves his diploma, my candidate is ready. If he tries to block it through the diploma, the CHP will determine its candidate in the most participatory way. We will determine a candidate who can defeat him. I have no claim or intention to be a presidential candidate from the first day, but the CHP's candidate will be strong enough to defeat Erdoğan."
"A DRONE HAS COME TO ELMADAĞ, AND THEY ARE BOASTING ABOUT SHOOTING IT DOWN"
Özel responded to the question, "The plane of the Chief of General Staff of Libya crashed, and Mr. Bahçeli made a statement suggesting a suspicious situation. How do you evaluate this event?" with the following answer:
"I had made a statement regarding Mr. Bahçeli's comments on the day the plane crashed. One should not speak too early, but I mean, all the controls have been done everywhere, and suddenly there is an electrical failure. And before it even turns back, they say that if it were a normal failure, it should have glided to the airport, but it crashes in a very short time. There is also a matter that the company of this plane previously transported mercenaries from Ireland to Libya, and that this plane later transported some of the mercenaries fighting for Hafter to fight in Ukraine. Here, expressing a suspicion is not being a conspiracy theorist. These suspicions need to be clarified. A drone has come to Elmadağ, and they are boasting about shooting it down. Its coming this far is a source of shame, not a source of pride.
We see that a drone has crashed in Kocaeli and another drone in Balıkesir. Now, these drones have crashed and are raising alarms, and the villagers will not be aware of it. It is such a point that all the targets they have chosen are extremely strategic military targets, one is an air base, one is a naval base, and one has important facilities in Turkey like Aselsan and Roketsan.