04.05.2026 19:39
Mustafa Varank, Chair of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission, said regarding who will be the CHP's presidential candidate, 'In my opinion, the CHP's candidate is Özgür Özel. I do not believe that the current CHP will take a step regarding Mansur Yavaş.'
In the Anatolian Talks program of the Turkish Press Federation, Mustafa Varank, Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission, answered journalists' questions.
Varank responded to the question about operations against CHP municipalities and the expulsion of Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım as follows:
“The sad part is that there are claims that their own organizations complained about this person to the headquarters, but the headquarters turned a deaf ear. If you are going to do politics, you must be clear. You must expel them from the party immediately. But if you don't take action when things are this blatant and the footage is public, you lose credibility in the eyes of the citizens. Everyone will wonder, ‘What kind of relationship do they have?’ If the headquarters does not do what is necessary regarding a mistake everyone agrees on, then politics loses its credibility. In such a situation with so many mistakes, how can a headquarters fail to act?”
“DID ÖZGÜR ÖZEL REALLY NEED THAT VEHICLE?”
Regarding the claims that Özkan Yalım provided the official vehicle used by CHP Chairman Özel, Varank said, “Let Özel pay the 6.5 million and return that car. Do you need this vehicle? Could the entire CHP need it? Our state provides treasury aid to parties. You don't need that modified vehicle there either. If there are such obvious wrongdoings on the ruling party side, action must be taken. If not, the reputation of politics is damaged. As political parties, you have to do what is necessary. Otherwise, everyone will ask the same question: What kind of relationship exists that prevents them from acting? These are the things that damage the reputation of politics.”
“THAT BUSINESSMAN IS ON THE YACHT, WE MUST QUESTION THAT”
Regarding Özgür Özel's appearance on the yacht, Varank said the following:
“They went with their families and had fun. That is nobody's business. You can criticize the timing, but there is a person mentioned there who uses the CHP deputy group chair's reserved license plate. That same businessman is there. That is what we need to question, not them having fun with their families. That is how we should approach it from a political ethics perspective. Otherwise, let them go and have fun wherever they want. But they should not clink raki glasses at a gravesite.”
“A TROIKA IS RUNNING THE CHP”
Stating that “the new CHP management is the cause of these problems,” Varank continued his criticism as follows:
“A troika is currently running the CHP. A troika with past connections is trying to design the CHP. They have no interest in the people's problems.”
“IN MY OPINION, THE CHP'S CANDIDATE IS ÖZGÜR ÖZEL”
Mustafa Varank also responded to criticisms that “AK Party wants a candidate like Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu” as follows:
“We have not shaped our politics based on our opponent. We have never had the aim of choosing or selecting an opponent. From my perspective, whoever the CHP's candidate is, their decision does not concern us. But I do not believe the current CHP will take a step regarding Mansur Yavaş. Their candidate is Özel. They are taking all steps accordingly. There are also CHP deputies who say this has caused a rift with İmamoğlu. Ekrem İmamoğlu currently cannot be a candidate due to the diploma issue. The court will decide, but we see this politburo striving to make Özel the candidate. We see this in their attitudes and behaviors in Parliament. I do not believe Yavaş will find any opportunity within the current CHP management.”
“EVERYONE KNOWS THERE WERE SHENANIGANS AT THAT CONGRESS”
Regarding a possible annulment decision, Varank said, “We will all see what the judiciary decides,” and continued:
“I am not legally knowledgeable, but from my perspective, I can say that CHP friends have told us there were some shenanigans at that congress. CHP deputies said, 'They bought everyone off, money came from Istanbul, they promised positions and jobs.' Politically speaking, everyone knows there were shenanigans at that congress. If you win a congress by distributing money and buying delegates, it becomes something else.”
“WE GO AFTER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ENGAGE IN CORRUPTION”
Responding to criticisms that “only CHP municipalities are being targeted,” Varank said, “All kinds of corruption are being targeted. According to Ministry of Interior figures, more investigations are opened into AK Party municipalities. But with all due respect, just because there is theft in CHP municipalities does not mean there must be theft in ours. We are not like CHP municipalities. Our concern is to serve. They have no concern for serving the city. If there are irregularities in our municipalities, we are the first to go after them. Our deputy chairman responsible for local governments issues report cards for municipalities. The control mechanism is very strict. We take action against those who commit corruption. We make no effort to cover anything up.”