08.02.2026 18:40
Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan, in a statement on his social media account, announced that he has resigned from the CHP. Özarslan's statement included the remarks, "Can a party leader insult a mayor? Can a party leader target family values and insult? Can a party leader threaten with unspeakable words?"
The Republican People's Party (CHP) was shaken by a resignation shock. The CHP mayor of Ankara Keçiören, Mesut Özarslan, resigned from his party.
POISONOUS WORDS
In a statement on his social media account, Özarslan used poisonous expressions while announcing his resignation. In his statement, Özarslan said, "On March 31, 2024, in the local elections, the people of Keçiören showed their favor and deemed me worthy of the Mayor's Office with a significant vote rate. This favor from the people of Keçiören has honored me. As I stated during the oath-taking ceremony, from the very first day, I started to serve all of Keçiören transparently and equally by removing my party badge. In this context, I have made efforts to bring services to our Keçiören by knocking on every door without regard to party distinctions," he stated.
"A SYSTEMATIC RUMOR CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN INITIATED"
Özarslan stated, "Recently, the increase in my visits to find solutions to the major investments and problems of our Keçiören and the fact that I announced these visits transparently on social media have led to a systematic rumor and perception campaign initiated by certain cliques and factions within the CHP." He added, "Those who are distant from the national and spiritual values I represent and those who want to instrumentalize these values in their internal party reckonings have attempted to mislead the public with false speculations and to discredit me within the party. However, the slanders and speculations regarding me have been disregarded by me in line with the understanding that 'Serving the People is Serving the Truth,' and on January 6, 2026, a meeting was held with the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Mr. Murat Kurum, to address the problems of our Keçiören," he wrote.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S EXPRESSIONS ATTRACTED ATTENTION
Özarslan also stated, "After this visit, some cliques within the CHP have increased the dosage of these rumors and perceptions. However, I cannot understand the underlying motive for a Mayor to visit the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, who has won the hearts of our people with his effective and rapid services, especially in the earthquake zone, and to serve his district.
Moreover, although our relationship with the Minister is based on school and work friendship and has been a long-standing friendship, the number of these cliques and the pressure on me have increased after this visit. Despite maintaining my silence against pressure, rumors, and slanders, on February 7, 2025, at 23:59, I started receiving WhatsApp messages directed at me from the CHP Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel. These messages contain insults, threats, and slanders that are incompatible with political courtesy, party ethics, public responsibility, and humanity.
"DOES A PARTY CHAIRMAN CURSE A MAYOR?"
I ask; does a party chairman curse a mayor? Does a party chairman insult by targeting family values? Does a party chairman threaten with unmentionable words? Especially in the face of messages that even involve my family values and my sacred existence, my mother and late father; while my respect and love for the Republican People's Party voters remain intact, it is out of the question for me to serve within the ranks of the Republican People's Party. Although my only priority is to serve Keçiören, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to perform my duties in a healthy manner in an environment dominated by the tone and understanding reflected in the messages.
"I AM RESIGNING"
Özarslan concluded his statements with the following words: "My reaction is not against the institutional identity of the Republican People's Party, nor against the Atatürkist and Republican voters; it is against the current management understanding that has lost political courtesy and the seriousness of the state.
In this context, I am resigning from my membership in the Republican People's Party.
Despite everything, I would like to thank the Mayor of Ankara, Mr. Mansur Yavaş, with whom I have walked together, as well as my other mayor friends from Ankara for their efforts. I believe that service-oriented politics should not be sacrificed to internal party tensions and a hurtful tone; I express that the political ground where such a management exists should be reevaluated by everyone.
"LET WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ME NOT BE FORGOTTEN"
I would also like to state that I ask for forgiveness from my mayor friends, thinking that the cliques within the CHP that caused this process to come to this point will also interpret my gratitude to the other mayors, especially Mr. Mansur Yavaş, in a different way.
However, I want to remind my brothers, friends, and colleagues; we had made a destiny alliance to walk "in the way of God, with the aim of serving the nation while preserving the unity and integrity of the homeland." However, at this point we have reached, unfortunately, there is nothing left of the path of God, the homeland, family, or any of the sacred values we hold dear in the CHP Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel and his close colleagues; all sanctities have been destroyed. I appeal to the consciences of my friends with whom I set out and walked together; "The cause is the Humanity Cause"; I invite them to free themselves from this structure, which has distanced itself from its founding codes and is managed unethically, to avoid being part of the immorality directed at me, and to show their reactions. Today, let it not be forgotten that what has been done to me and my family will one day be done to them if no reaction is shown.
I will continue to carry the trust of my Keçiören fellow citizens with dignity and work for our district without regard to party distinctions.