Özgür Özel: We welcomed the President without disrespecting the office.

CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel stated regarding the standing up of the members during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's entrance to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), "We welcomed the President, the head of state, who is responsible for opening the Assembly according to the Constitution, on October 1 without disrespecting the office. There is nothing surprising about this. I have been expressing this for a long time. Thankfully, our friends also thought similarly on this matter. We will continue in this way from now on," he said.

ÖZEL: WE HAD STATED THAT WE WOULD NOT DISRESPECT THE OFFICE

CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel answered journalists' questions after the opening of the 28th Term 3rd Legislative Year in the TBMM General Assembly. In response to a question about the CHP group's standing up during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's entrance to the General Assembly, Özel said: "We had stated that we would not leave any deficiency in respect for the office. We stood up hoping that when the President came in accordance with his oath, he would make a suitable speech. We have said many times before that we would not disrespect the office. His speech was within the limits of a party leader's speech.

"WE DID NOT FEEL THE NEED TO STAND UP AS HE LEFT"

Although there were no statements that would disturb us or require us to respond, it was a speech by a party leader. Therefore, we did not feel the need to stand up as he left. We welcomed the President, the head of state, who is responsible for opening the Assembly according to the Constitution, on October 1 without disrespecting the office. There is nothing surprising about this. I have been expressing this for a long time.

"THE AK PARTY WILL SHOW THE SAME COURTESY WHEN A CHP PRESIDENT IS ELECTED"

Thankfully, our friends also thought similarly on this matter. We will continue in this way from now on. In fact, one of our friends' assessment is this; we took an important step to ensure that our president is not treated otherwise next year or the year after. I hope that the Justice and Development Party will show the same courtesy when a CHP president is elected."

"WE DID NOT FORCE ANYONE TO STAND UP"

Özel, in response to the reminder that some CHP deputies did not stand up during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's entrance to the General Assembly, said, "The CHP is a democratic party. In the past, we have said many times in similar decisions, 'those who do not want to comply with the decisions can stay outside.' We stated it this way. We did not force anyone to enter or stand up. According to what they told me, there were also friends who showed courtesy and informed us. Apparently, 15-20 of our friends preferred to wait in the lobby or a few of our friends did not stand up inside. Since this was not a group decision of the party, it was only communicated to the group that 'we will behave this way.' It was also communicated by the group vice presidents that those who do not want to could stay outside. I do not see any problem," he said.

"THERE IS BENEFIT IN THE STEPS TOWARDS NORMALIZATION"

Özel stated that the CHP will continue to show respect to the offices in the future and continued his words as follows: "However, there is absolutely no way that the opposition will say a word less, take a step back, or bend an inch, as some expect or make strange comparisons. We will make the harshest criticisms without insulting. The CHP is the future ruling party of this country. It is the first party of March 31. It is the first party in today's polls.

The CHP will act accordingly and to everyone who has received votes from the public, look at the normalization step we have taken; for example, today, Mr. Devlet has very harsh statements; however, we did not shy away from shaking hands. We will give the clearest answers and continue to make the harshest criticisms. But look, today, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli shook hands and chatted with the co-chairs of the DEM Party. This is important.

Normalization is necessary for everyone, it is very necessary for Turkey. Normalization means that everyone defends their position within democratic limits against the fascist tendencies of a one-man rule. Otherwise, it will lead the country to disaster. You see the results of the steps the CHP has taken by taking risks in Turkish politics. The steps towards normalization have no harm to either my party or my country; they benefit both."