26.01.2026 12:50
Responding to MHP leader Bahçeli's call for early elections, CHP leader Özel said, "Mr. Bahçeli, at a time when the public is most disturbed by this government, when the economic crisis is at its peak, when the complaints of the people are at their highest, and when poverty, unemployment, and insecurity have reached an unbearable level, you are now closing the door to early elections. If you were to open the door to early elections, retirees would be saved, minimum wage earners would be saved, farmers would be saved, tradespeople would be saved, and civil servants would be saved."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with Saadet Party Chairman Mahmut Arıkan at the party's headquarters. After the meeting, Özel and Arıkan made statements to the press.
In his statement, he responded to MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli's words, "Early elections are not possible in this period; it is also not right. Turkey's surroundings are a ring of fire. It is important to maintain stability," by saying, "Mr. Bahçeli, at a time when the public is most disturbed by this government, when the economic crisis is at its peak, when the public's complaints are at their highest, when poverty, unemployment, and insecurity have reached an unbearable point, you are closing the door to early elections. If you were to open the door to early elections, retirees would be saved, minimum wage earners would be saved, farmers would be saved, tradespeople would be saved, and civil servants would be saved."
Highlights from Özel's statements;
He was in a tripartite coalition, which was a coalition with many difficulties. An earthquake had occurred, and a major economic crisis was being attempted to be overcome with very strict measures. At the most challenging time for his government, and in a process where every day thereafter would begin to yield results from economic measures, where citizens would feel relief and government reactions would decrease, he led the country to early elections while at the bottom.
"NOT A RETIREE, EVERY RETIREE"
The Justice and Development Party achieved a result that even they could not have imagined, with all three parties forming the government falling below the electoral threshold, and only two parties being able to pass the threshold, capturing the government alone just 13-14 months after its establishment. On that day, the lowest pension was 8 quarter gold, today it is 2 quarter gold. The 6 quarter gold difference has flown out of the retiree's pocket as a result of the Justice and Development Party's rule. Not a retiree, every retiree; not one quarter gold, 6 quarter gold; not once, they lose every month. This process was initiated by Mr. Bahçeli's call for early elections.
"RETIREES WILL BE SAVED, CIVIL SERVANTS WILL BE SAVED"
Now Mr. Bahçeli is closing the door to early elections at a time when the public is most disturbed by this government, when the economic crisis is at its peak, when the public's complaints are at their highest, when poverty, unemployment, and insecurity have reached an unbearable point. If he were to open the door to early elections today, retirees would be saved, minimum wage earners would be saved, farmers would be saved, tradespeople would be saved, and civil servants would be saved. But while he was in power, he is closing the door to early elections at the most disadvantageous point for the AK Party, which he opened at the most advantageous time.
"IT IS CLEAR YOU WON'T DO ANY GREATNESS"
Mr. Bahçeli, we are as you know us. We have become a bit more skilled at breaking stones, distinguishing friends from foes. If someone who behaved that way then behaves this way today, it is already clear that you won't do any greatness for the retiree...
In the past weeks, despite everything, we said to Mr. Bahçeli, the three parties that form the New Path group; Future, Deva, and Saadet Party, along with the Good Party, DEM Party, and CHP, call this wage 'a starvation wage.' But our total does not exceed 300. The Justice and Development Party has 275. There are also 47 from the Nationalist Movement Party, making a total of 322 members of parliament. They say 'no' to everything. If Mr. Devlet were to decide to save from the starvation wage with 47 members of parliament, we are in the minority, but the retirees would pass into the majority. We said, 'If they stand behind Mr. Devlet's word, we can get out of this.'
"HE INSULTED US A LOT"
Mr. Devlet said this as sowing discord between the government and the coalition partner. He insulted us so much; in one paragraph. He turned to all the accusations made against Mayor Ekrem that could not be proven and spoke as if they were true, insulting us a lot. In the end, he said, 'I won't fall for these games.' Still, since it was before the vote, I said, 'Mr. Devlet is our elder. Then let him do a greatness. He said he wouldn't support our proposal.'
"LIFT THE RETIREE FROM THE GROUND THEY FELL"
Let him submit his own proposal.' What did Mr. Devlet do? He didn't submit that proposal either. They voted for the starvation wage. Now he has come and said, 'Sir, he wouldn't fall for those traps.' We are not saying to Mr. Devlet, 'You fall for the trap, don't fall.' But we are saying, 'Let's lift the retiree from the ground they fell together.'