30.05.2026 20:40
Özgür Özel, who was removed from the CHP Chairmanship by the court's 'absolute nullity' decision, responded during his march to Anıtkabir to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's words, 'We will save our innocent mayors, but we will not turn a blind eye to those involved in corruption.' Özel said, 'Defending your friend when called a "thief" and sharing the slander against those who do not support you is not befitting a Chairman. A father protects his child and says, "My child would not do that."'
Following the 'absolute nullity' decision, Özgür Özel, who was removed from his position as CHP Chairman, began marching towards Anıtkabir with the crowd gathered at the field after the holiday greeting held in front of the party's Ankara Provincial Headquarters.
HE RESPONDED TO KILIÇDAROĞLU'S REMARKS
During the march, Özel also responded to the words of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was simultaneously addressing party members at the CHP Headquarters, saying, 'We will save our innocent mayors, but we will not turn a blind eye to those involved in corruption.'
Özel stated the following: 'Those who believe that a result can be achieved by trusting the AK Party judiciary and bargaining with the AK Party are doing a great injustice to all our friends. To know who is innocent and who is not, two things are needed. First, an impartial judiciary is needed. Second, one must believe in the presumption of innocence. It does not befit a Chairman to defend a friend who supports you when called a 'thief,' but to share that slander when someone who does not support you is called a 'thief.' First of all, the Chairman sits in Atatürk's seat, in the chairmanship of this party, of the paternal home, and like a father, when his child is called a 'thief,' he says, 'My child would not do that.' He says, 'I do not believe my children would do this.' Without believing in the presumption of innocence, by calling the one TGRT calls a 'thief' a 'thief,' and by calling the one A Haber calls 'corrupt' 'corrupt,' one cannot make progress in this party.'
"WE DERIVE OUR LEGITIMACY FROM THE NATION"
Özel said, 'Our entire nation has seen who has dragged the party into the corridors of the judiciary throughout its history. Our entire nation has seen who sought help from the AK Party judiciary. Let me not say more.'
In response to a question about the claim that his immunity could also be lifted, Özel replied, 'It is clear what has become of those who follow the pro-government media and what state they have brought the party to. We derive our legitimacy from the nation. There is no greater immunity than the immunity provided by the nation.'