Özgür Özel: The pawn in the trap set for İmamoğlu is Süleyman Soylu.

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CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made statements to reporters at Istanbul Airport before his trip to the USA to attend the Socialist International Presidential Committee meeting.

STRIKING STATEMENT FROM ÖZGÜR ÖZEL

Regarding the expected decision from the Court of Appeals about the 'political ban' case opened against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, CHP leader Özel said, "Our Istanbul Provincial Chairman and Deputy Chairman will attend that meeting together and will lead that meeting. We have assigned 6 Deputy Chairpersons, and our Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor will attend part of the meeting.

"WE ARE CONSIDERING EVERY POSSIBILITY"

I had a one-on-one meeting with him last night. We evaluated this ourselves. We are considering every possibility. No one should try to normalize a punishment from an absurd case or an absurd accusation and make us accept it as if it will happen. Such an agenda should not be allowed to settle.

"DID SOYLU CALL US 'FOOLS' WHILE LOOKING INTO OUR EYES?"

Süleyman Soylu called Ekrem İmamoğlu, a public official, a 'fool.' Ekrem Bey, without losing his manners, said, 'You are the fool.' When he reminded that the fool was the one who had the Istanbul election annulled, they turned it into 'Oh, the YSK annulled the Istanbul election, you insulted public officials.' Did Süleyman Soylu look into all our eyes and call Ekrem Bey a 'fool' or not? Ekrem Bey is the elected public official of Istanbul... They are trying to impose a punishment by saying that the response he gave to Süleyman Soylu was directed at the YSK. No one should try to normalize the possibility of such a punishment. We do not accept this. There is no such nonsense, no such lack of awareness. I do not think they will let Turkey experience such a disgrace.

"THEY HAVE SET A TRAP TO RESTRICT HIS CANDIDACY"

They have set a trap to restrict Ekrem İmamoğlu's potential candidacy for president, and Süleyman Soylu is the pawn of this trap. This case will be seen tomorrow or the day after, and we will issue a punishment. There is no such thing. If you do this, and if you have not learned from the last democratic slap, the people will apply a much harsher one," he said.