01.10.2025 08:54
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Bülent Arınç, reacted to the CHP's decision not to attend the parliamentary opening, stating, "My request to the esteemed CHP Chairman is to reverse this wrong decision and to be together under the roof of the parliament on October 1." In response to Arınç, Özgür Özel said, "My party has been under attack since last year."
CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel announced that they have decided not to attend the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on October 1. The 22nd TBMM President Bülent Arınç reacted to this decision of the CHP with a statement he made on his X account. Arınç said, "My request from the esteemed CHP General Chairman is to reverse this wrong decision and to be together under the roof of the parliament on October 1."
"I FIND THE DECISION WRONG"
Arınç stated: "It is expressed that the CHP will not attend the TBMM 28th Term 4th Legislative Year Opening Meeting on October 1, as they think that operations are being carried out directly against CHP mayors and the party itself, and to protest this. I find this decision wrong. According to the Constitution and the internal regulations, the TBMM starts the legislative year on October 1 and convenes with a special agenda. Traditionally, if he wishes, our President can give a speech. Today is one of the most important days for the Assembly. Until now, all parties, even if they have different views, have participated in these sessions, whether in small or large numbers. It is everyone's right to love or criticize the President; however, there should be no fault in showing respect. The TBMM is the manifestation of the will of the nation and the heart of democracy. It is the reason for the existence of political parties and members of parliament; it is the apple of the nation's eye.
"IT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN UNTIL NOW"
With the decision not to attend, the CHP is actually taking a stance against the Assembly, which harms the dignity of the Assembly. The CHP is a rooted party, and it has never been seen that the main opposition party boycotts the opening sessions of the Assembly. We can criticize the President or the Speaker of the Assembly; however, we are also obliged to respect them. The place to protest against them is not the TBMM itself. You can express your objections and engage in democratic actions at other times and venues. I served as the president of this esteemed institution for two terms, five years. During my term, my top priority was to elevate the reputation of the TBMM and its members. I have always attended every invitation from our Assembly with great enthusiasm. I showed respect to that esteemed institution. My request from the esteemed CHP General Chairman is to reverse this wrong decision and to be together under the roof of the parliament on October 1."
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL DID NOT DELAY IN RESPONDING TO ARINÇ
CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel did not delay in responding to Bülent Arınç. Arınç, who published the message Özel sent him, used the following expressions: "Dear Chairman, as always, your suggestions and criticisms are very valuable. I am already following you on social media. Despite receiving countless criticisms from within the party and the opposition last year, and even though some friends within the party behaved differently and opened a discussion about our Chairmanship, I resolutely stood up the Republican People's Party group when the President entered. I also welcomed him standing. After becoming the Chairman and winning the elections on March 31, I made the congratulatory calls. I visited him. When I returned the visit, I had the Presidential insignia and the Turkish flag raised on our party's flagpole.
In response to this, this morning at 08:00, I visited Mehmet Murat Çalık, our İzmir provincial chairman, and the previous mayor of İzmir in prison. The person whom 16 million Istanbulites said for the third time 'let him govern us' is currently being held in prison. My party's Istanbul provincial congress is in court. The Istanbul provincial building is in court. The Istanbul Provincial Chairman is in court. They attacked with 5,000 police. In our provincial building, the cat named Lucky became a veterinary clinic. Two years ago, we achieved a first in our political history... They are questioning the convention I won where Muharrem İnce said, 'If Atatürk were to come back, he couldn't defeat Kılıçdaroğlu with this delegate structure.' They are trying to replace it with someone who has not been elected.
"DUE TO THE STRUGGLE WE HAVE GIVEN, I HAVE RECEIVED 31 INDICTMENTS IN 1.5 YEARS"
I was attacked with punches at the funeral of Sırrı Süreyya Önder. While Murat Çalık, who has had two cancers, is in custody, the monster who attacked me after killing his wife and daughter was released yesterday. In the last court, he expressed regret. However, in the first court, his sadness was that he could not hurt me in a real sense. My daughter, who lives alone in Istanbul, is constantly threatened and targeted as her place of residence is exposed. While rebelling against these, I have received 31 indictments in 1.5 years due to the struggle we have given. They want to lift my immunity.
Under these circumstances, when the President comes, should we continue our stance from last year and stand up, or should we abandon this approach and sit in our place? I cannot answer this question with my conscience. Last year on October 1, we were all in the Assembly together. On October 2, Akın Gürlek was appointed from a political position to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Since that day, my party has been under an attack that will not be less than the coup periods, and even beyond them. The coup at least targets the entire political institution together. Here, only one party is being subjected to these actions. Dear Chairman, I respectfully submit this to your appreciation."
ARINÇ RESPONDED TO ÖZEL'S MESSAGE: FROM OCTOBER 2...
Arınç also expressed the following in his response to Özel: "Dear General Chairman, good evening, and my respects. Thank you very much for your response to my message. You may certainly be right about the issues you wrote. I also sometimes feel concern and sadness for my country. In response to this, every evening, you hold large-scale rallies, and you speak in front of the media every day. You rebel against injustices, but I find such a protest at the opening of the Assembly, which is a constitutional requirement, to be wrong. From October 2 onwards, you can express your criticisms in group meetings, in all the rallies you will hold, and in TV programs. This is your most natural right. I only pointed out the dignity of the Assembly."