19.06.2026 09:41
Özgür Özel reacted to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's statement "We should grow in the Ottoman geography" by saying, "After this emphasis reminiscent of the People's Alliance rhetoric, I lost my sleep." Stating that no one would dare to expel him from CHP, Özel said, "I am targeted because I aimed for power; I have taken on everything. If this last effort also fails, I will ask the people and move forward from a new front."
Özgür Özel, who was suspended from duty after the 'absolute nullity' decision in the CHP, was a guest of journalist Timur Soykan on Birgün TV. Making striking statements about the leadership crisis within the party, claims of a new party, and the purge process he faced, Özel harshly criticized Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's 'Ottoman geography' remarks.
'KEMAL BEY'S WORDS KEPT ME AWAKE'
Describing that he can stay calm and sleep even in the most stressful periods, Özgür Özel said that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's statements in the form of 'Turkey should be in the Ottoman geography, we must grow' caused disappointment in him. Özel used the following expressions: "They said 'nullity is coming', I went to sleep. The nullity decision came out, I went to sleep. They said they would attack the party in the morning, I went to sleep. They expelled us by police force, I walked under the rain, held a rally, I went to sleep. At Sırrı Süreyya's funeral, someone came and attacked, I went to sleep that night. But when I saw the words 'grow into the Ottoman geography, CHP will take its place here' in Kemal Bey's text... After the tone and emphasis of 'We can fill this corner too' in the discourses embraced by the People's Alliance, I couldn't sleep. I lost my sleep."
'THEY CAN'T RISK EXPELLING ME'
Also touching on the expulsion processes carried out by the High Disciplinary Board (YDK), Özel argued that the current administration would not dare to completely expel him from the party: "I don't think they will attempt to expel me. Would they intend to expel the elected party chairman from the party, would they risk it? If they expel Özgür Özel from the CHP, then the group chairmanship could fall."
'I'M NOT EXPECTING ARREST, I'VE RISKED EVERYTHING'
Asked whether he expected a wave of arrests due to political pressures, Özgür Özel, stating that he was put on the target board because he rejected the '20 years of comfortable opposition' offer, almost challenged: "I'm not expecting arrest. But those who take on such tasks set out risking everything. When I said 'no' to the offer 'Come sit in opposition happily for 20 years, enjoy yourself', I was targeted because I aimed for power. Whatever is at the end of this target, I have taken that risk. Those who want to push their party below the threshold can only attempt such things (arrest)."
NEW PARTY SIGNAL: I WILL ASK THE NATION
Stating that he will push until the last moment to resolve the internal party crisis, Özgür Özel signaled that if the crisis is not overcome, he will chart his own path with these words: "If the last effort also fails, I will ask the nation, 'Should I go this way?'"