11.02.2026 11:03
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, commented on the appointment of Akın Gürlek as Minister of Justice, saying, "Someone who was previously in a political position and then assigned as the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul to carry out an operation against the party has been appointed as Minister of Justice in the early hours of today. Tomorrow morning will be more difficult than this morning. No one should have any doubts about that."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel attended the memorial ceremony held at the State Cemetery for former Chairman Deniz Baykal. After the ceremony, Özel made statements regarding Akın Gürlek's appointment as Minister of Justice for the first time.
Starting his speech by commemorating Deniz Baykal, Özel said, "From the time Deniz Bey was a minister and the party was the leading party, 47 years later we have managed to make our party the leading party and achieved a great victory in the local elections. We are currently moving towards power as the Social Democratic Party with the highest number of municipalities in the world and the highest vote rate in Europe," he said.
"WE WILL NOT SURRENDER, THERE IS NO DESPAIR"
Özel also touched upon the appointment of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek as Minister of Justice, stating, "Tomorrow morning will be more difficult than this morning. Let there be no doubt about that," he expressed.
Özel made the following evaluations:
"At 35 years old, a member of parliament, at 36 years old, Minister of Finance, and at 40 years old, showing the courage to nationalize mines as the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, having served our party and the Republic of Turkey at many levels, always prioritizing the benefit of the country and the party, I carry the excitement and responsibility of being in the presence of the person who first predicted my becoming the General Chairman of the party by saying in 2009 in Manisa Republic Square, 'When I look at him, I see Deniz from 35 years ago,' and with the advice he gave that day, 'You will also be in these positions.' Everyone here with us has done politics with Deniz Bey, learned something from him, and contributed to the party with him.
"WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A GREAT ATTACK"
Those who were in the same cabinet with him, those who manage the Republican People's Party are all together in his presence today with the same sense of responsibility. We have a responsibility from this point on. We have managed to make our party the leading party 47 years after Deniz Bey was a minister in the Republican People's Party and the party was the leading party, and we are currently moving towards power as the social democratic party with the highest number of municipalities in the world and the highest vote rate in Europe. But it is not easy; the party is facing the biggest attack in our political history. The day has come when someone who previously held a political position in the party and was then assigned as the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul to carry out an operation against the party could be appointed as Minister of Justice in the early hours of today. Between two political positions, there will be an attack on the institutional identity of the Republican People's Party, canceling the Istanbul Provincial Congress, which was two elections ago, appointing a trustee there, keeping that trustee still in office from one side, and on the other hand, conducting judicial processes known to be a political operation against all elected members of the party through smear campaigns at every opportunity, and then turning back to sit in a political position again and looking everyone in the eye and saying 'Turkey is a rule of law.' We are in the midst of a great attack.
"TOMORROW MORNING WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN THIS MORNING"
Tomorrow morning will be more difficult than this morning. Let there be no doubt about that. But let there be no doubt that the determination, struggle, and resistance of a party that has been able to save this country from attack and occupation and gift this country a Republic and then democracy will also leave its mark on these days. We will not surrender, we will not bow down, and just as we came here today as the leading party of Turkey, we will return here again as the General Chairman of the ruling party of Turkey, the Republican People's Party, alongside the politicians who have taken responsibility for that party, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, walking together as Atatürkists, Republicans, and members of the Republican People's Party. Therefore, I say to those who expect us to think that we are under attack and that these attacks will not cease and that this will spread despair, 'You will wait much longer; the Republican People's Party will continue its struggle with determination until the day this nation gives the task of lifting this country up once again.' May our heads be held high. We bow respectfully once again in front of his memory.