30.05.2026 14:40
Özgür Özel addressed party members at the same time as Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. With 7 kilometers between his and Kılıçdaroğlu's rallies, Özel said, 'Immediately hold a congress and reunite the party with an elected chairman. CHP does not accept appointments. Let 2 million CHP members decide who the chairman will be. I demand a primary election for the CHP chairmanship. I promise that if I get less than 85% of the vote in this election, I will not run for the position.'
Ankara is witnessing unprecedented moments in Turkish political history today. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, reinstated by a decision of absolute nullity, is addressing the public in front of the CHP headquarters, while Özgür Özel, whose CHP chairmanship was annulled, is speaking in front of the party's Ankara provincial headquarters.
Thousands of people have gathered in Güvenpark and its surroundings, and a poster of Özgür Özel was hung on the provincial headquarters building.
Citizens frequently chanted slogans such as "Traitor Kemal" and "Free Turkey, free future." Numerous police teams and TOMA vehicles were seen in Güvenpark, where the rally is being held.
The highlights from Özgür Özel's speech are as follows:
"Today is not a day for words of anger, but for raising hope, speaking words of hope, starting a march to power, and shouting for power.
We have no money, no building, but we have something others don't: you.
We are the party that defeated the Justice and Development Party for the first time since its founding. We are not the CHP that is used to losing; we are the winning CHP. We are not the appointed CHP; we are the elected CHP.
They are at the end of the road, we are at the beginning.
These attacks, these sabotages, this judicial coup, these unprecedented actions... They want only one thing. One thing is desired. Today, they do not want a CHP that marches to power, but a CHP that marches with power.
I swear to you, I vow that I will not give up my march to power.
We have thrown a wrench into the wheels of this established order in two places. First, in a place where it was said that a general chairman cannot be changed by election in this system in Turkey, and that even if Atataturk came back, he couldn't change the general chairman with this delegate system, those who embraced not Ataturk himself but his ideas, his struggle, and his determination won the congress in CHP.
Second, against those who said the AK Party cannot be defeated, that there have been 13 elections and Tayyip Erdogan always won, that the AK Party is invincible, together with all democrats, we defeated the AK Party and threw a wrench into the wheel of the established order.
We state clearly from here. Let no one underestimate this nation and this state. Let no one think of this state as an errand boy.
Immediately hold a congress, reunite the party with an elected general chairman. CHP does not accept appointments.
This party is the guarantee of Turkey's democracy. We demand a congress immediately."
MANSUR YAVAŞ ALSO CAME TO SHOW SUPPORT
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş also came to Güvenpark to show support for Özgür Özel. Yavaş made a speech here before Özgür Özel.
Details are coming...