Response from Özgür Özel to President Erdoğan: If he commits a financial coup, he will receive a democracy slap.

CHP leader Özgür Özel criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statement regarding the collection of municipalities' debts, saying, "This is an attempt to make the municipalities unable to provide services and show them as 'This is the CHP municipality.' These are cheap tricks."

Özel visited the Adalar CHP District Presidency and Adalar Municipality in Büyükada. Özel congratulated Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat for his election success. Meanwhile, a group of residents in Adalar protested against the minibuses brought to the island by İETT. The group carried banners saying "Adalar is a protected area, it does not accept large buses," "Adalar should not be urbanized," and "Why insist on large buses in pedestrian areas?"

"WE SAID THAT NOTHING UNWANTED BY ADA WILL BE DONE"

After the visit, Özel made a statement to the journalists, saying that democracy includes the right to protest and they support the use of democratic protest. Özel mentioned that they spoke with four representatives from Ada regarding the minibuses and said, "We said that nothing unwanted by Ada will be done. These vehicles of this size will be removed as pedestrian density decreases."

When the protesters shouted, "These vehicles are not suitable for Ada's roads," Özel responded, "But if you respect me, I respect you." Özel stated that he understood the reactions and instructed to completely abandon mutual criminal complaints. Regarding the vehicles, Özel said, "If you ask me, this size of a vehicle is not suitable for Ada. They are working on something smaller and more appropriate. It will happen in the near future."

"WHICH AK PARTY MUNICIPALITY HAS PAID ITS SOCIAL SECURITY DEBT SO FAR?"

When reminded of President Erdoğan's statement about the collection of municipalities' debts, Özel said, "Let Mr. Erdoğan tell us which AK Party municipality has paid its debt to the Social Security Institution. All the municipalities we took over have not paid any debts for at least the past five years. Now, with the money to be deposited in the Social Security Institution, the AK Party municipality will provide services on time, and then we will pay the money they used without paying the Social Security Institution. The people have already become tired of this mentality, that's why they gave us 412 municipalities. Can there be such a double standard? Which AK Party municipality has paid its Social Security debt so far?"

"TRYING TO MAKE THEM UNABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SHOW AS 'THIS IS THE CHP MUNICIPALITY'"

Özel commented on Erdoğan's statement about deducting the municipalities' receivables, saying, "This is an attempt to make the municipalities unable to provide services and show them as 'This is the CHP municipality.' These are cheap tricks. Let him do that, let him deduct the debts of the AK Party municipality to the Social Security Institution or the previous Social Security debts, let him hinder the provision of services, and I will go out and explain how he resorts to this game out of fear that his incompetent management will change and to take away the management competence of CHP members. Let me say, 'He cannot reduce inflation. We are coming to power. To prevent us from coming, he is trying to tie the hands and impoverish our municipalities, unable to pay salaries, unable to collect garbage.' Recep Tayyip Erdoğan should know that all CHP members will collect that garbage with their own hands. Still, we will not surrender to his games and blackmail."

"HE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT SUCH A THING, HE WILL RECEIVE A DEMOCRACY SLAP"

Özel stated that the people are counting the days and said, "Instead of learning from the election results and fulfilling the people's demands, he insists on being stubborn and obstructs our service. The people see this. Just as they forcibly took the certificate of office from Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected by the people in Istanbul, preventing the elected mayor from using his money and providing services is the same thing. Last time, they staged a judicial coup with the Supreme Election Council. He said, 'I will give an Ottoman slap.' He received a democracy slap. Now, he will make a financial coup. He will receive a new democracy slap. I will explain this in every square, every street. He should not attempt such a thing."

REGULATION REGARDING STRAY ANIMALS

When asked about President Erdoğan's statements regarding the problem of stray animals, Özel said the following:

"I have been saying from the beginning that there is a problem of stray animals, not a lesson in mercy. I am extremely concerned about this issue turning into a class problem. There is a problem that the children of the rich, those who go to school by bus, those who live in protected areas do not see, but other citizens are disturbed by it, and this issue is a social fault line where some are indifferent and some are sensitive. The solution to this problem can never be murder or massacre. The job to be done is clear. We will establish shelters, sterilize, and find owners for the animals. Period. We will not commit murder. The only thing that needs to be done for this is the budget. The path of the budget has been determined by the relevant committee of the Parliament; the Animal Rights Fund. It will be funded by horse racing, Spor Toto, Loto, and National Lottery, and the Animal Rights Fund will be established, and this problem will be solved."

Özel pointed out that the proposal report for the establishment of the fund was signed by AK Party and MHP and said, "Let them stand behind their words, let's solve the problem. If an innocent child is attacked by a dog tomorrow, the one responsible for not solving the problem as if it were solved will be this government. The solution must be humane and respectful of animal rights. We are here. If we take on a responsibility that we cannot fulfill, we will explain it to the people."

"WE ARE TEFLON WHEN IT COMES TO AK PARTY-LIKE ACCUSATIONS"

Özel responded to a question about the emergence of reference lists in the Turkey Municipalities Union (TBB) and the inclusion of his and some CHP executives' names and notes in these lists, saying, "I am not aware of the reference list, but whoever applies to me, I inform not only the TBB but all our executives. There is nothing unnatural about this. My brother was unemployed for six years, and I did not deign to work for any municipality of Allah. My MPs have unemployed siblings and spouses, and we did not deign to work for them. AK Party-like accusations do not stick to us. We are Teflon when it comes to this."

"CHP IS NOW THE RULING PARTY IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE"

Regarding the allegations that former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We will not shake hands with the person in the palace, if necessary, we will fight," Özel said the following:

"Why should I take Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu's evaluations personally? At the beginning of my speech, I said the following; Sheikh Edebali's will is for the ruling party, not the opposition.The first party is responsible for Turkey's polarization, lack of handshakes, and lack of dialogue. They didn't do this for 22 years, they didn't even shake hands at Anıtkabir. Isn't this statement about Erdoğan? Say this: "I became the first party in the March 31 elections, so I took the initiative." CHP is now the ruling party in the eyes of the people. We will do the things that befit the first party. Kemal Bey was never the leader of the first party. He wanted it very much, we worked hard, but it didn't happen. If he had been, he would have done what I said. We are not like those who become the first party like Tayyip Erdoğan and don't shake hands with the second party. "

"COALITION IS MHP'S JOB"

When asked about the allegations of an "AK Party-CHP coalition," Özel stated that there was no possibility of an alliance, coalition, or unity with the AK Party before the elections, but they would negotiate and debate on national, important issues and solve the problems of the citizens. However, he emphasized that they did not see it as their duty to take on the task that the people did not give them, as it was the job of the MHP.