16.10.2026 11:53
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel reacted to Presidential Chief Advisor Mehmet Uçum’s remarks that “it has now become largely clear that the 2028 elections could be held in March or April.” Reminding that 360 votes are needed in Parliament to bring the elections forward, Özel said that his party would not be involved in this process. Asking, “With whom is Mehmet Uçum supposedly reaching this figure?”, Özel argued that Uçum should disclose whether he is aware of a secret agreement with the DEM Party or the “null-and-void CHP”.
New Party General Chairman Özgür Özel responded on a live broadcast on NOW TV to President’s Chief Advisor Mehmet Uçum’s remarks regarding the date of the 2028 elections. Özel said that the statements that the election date had been “clarified” needed to be explained.
“THE CONDITION IS CLEAR IN THE CONSTITUTION”
When asked about Uçum’s words that “it has now become largely clear that the 2028 elections could be held in March or April,” Özel said, “That cannot happen. What does ‘becoming clear’ mean? There is a date. They have decided on that date. And he says this date has become clear. What does the Constitution say? We are a state of law, aren’t we? In other words, a sultan is not ruling.” Özel recalled that under the Constitution, 360 parliamentary votes are required to bring elections forward.
“IGNORING THE WILL OF PARLIAMENT”
Calculating based on the seat distribution in Parliament, Özel claimed that the AK Party has 280 and the MHP 46 members of parliament, that with other alliance partners this number reaches 330, and that 30 more members of parliament are needed for 360. Arguing that Uçum’s statement meant “ignoring the will of Parliament” and insulting members of parliament, Özel said, “I say as the NEW Party that we are never, ever part of such a thing. I took my 91 members of parliament and set them aside. With whom is Mehmet Uçum reaching this number? Let him tell me with whom he is reaching it.”
“SHOULD IT ASK DEM, OR THE NULLITY CHP?”
Asking whether there was a secret agreement behind Uçum’s statement, Özel asked whether it was meant that 17 members of parliament in the CHP, which he described as the “nullity CHP,” and in addition to them 13-14 members of parliament, would vote “under the orders of the palace.” Özel said, “Look, there are 3 possibilities. The NEW Party—I say I am not in it, brother. We are not in it. None of us are in it. What remains is DEM. Should the nation ask DEM? ‘Did you make a secret deal with this palace?’ Or should it ask the nullity CHP? Mehmet Uçum must come out today and explain this, or the AK Party’s group deputy chairman must explain it in Parliament today, or the AK Party’s spokesman Ömer Çelik must explain this today.”
“THIS STATEMENT REQUIRES CLARIFICATION”
Drawing attention to the fact that Uçum used the expression “became clear,” not “estimate,” Özel claimed that Uçum was aware of a “dirty deal” aimed at bringing the elections forward so that President Erdoğan could run again. Emphasizing that he was not accusing the DEM Party, Özel said, “Here I am in no way saying that the DEM Party did this or anything else. This statement requires clarification. This statement is an insult to politics, a slander thrown at all of us.” Özel argued that the AK Party must either state that Uçum “overstepped his bounds” or announce with which party a deal was made.
“WE WILL BREAK THE HAND OF ANYONE WHO REACHES FOR THE BALLOT BOX”
Also addressing concerns that elections would not be held, Özel said, “Together with this nation, we will break the hand of anyone who reaches for the ballot box and tries to steal it. We say this as clearly as that. Let no one have this worry, namely ‘Sir, will there not be elections?’ There will be, brother.”
EVALUATION REGARDING İMAMOĞLU’S DEFENSE
Responding to a question about the words of imprisoned İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in the İBB case ongoing in Silivri—“The target is not me; the target is the idea that power in this country can be changed through the ballot box”—Özel argued that the essence of the case was İmamoğlu’s presidential candidacy. Özel said, “The voice we are trying to make heard today is not the voice of one of our friends. It is the voice of the person the nation points to as the next president.” Repeating the demand that the trial be broadcast live, Özel linked the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV to the prevention of İmamoğlu’s defense being heard.
“IN OUR CASE, IT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR SOMEONE AFRAID OF SİLİVRİ TO BE A CANDIDATE”
When reminded of Saadet Party General Chairman Mahmut Arıkan’s words that they did not announce their candidates so that they would not be put in Silivri, Özel responded, “Our situation is a bit different. In our case, it is out of the question for someone who would fear Silivri to even be a candidate. Because it is impossible for someone who acts with that fear, who has that worry, to carry this burden.” At the beginning of the program, Özel offered his condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the flood disaster in Istanbul.