Special: We will determine the presidential candidate together with 1.5 million people.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, who answered journalists' questions and evaluated the agenda at the Ahlatlıbel Social Facilities of Çankaya Municipality, stated that he would meet with Ahmet Özer, who was removed from his position as the Mayor of Esenyurt after being arrested for "being a member of the armed terrorist organization PKK/KCK" in Istanbul, on Friday, November 29.

"I WON 31 MARCH BECAUSE I KNEW MY RIVAL"

In response to a question regarding President Erdoğan's evaluation of the CHP's vote rate in the March 31 Local Government General Elections, Özel stated; "I find it valuable that Erdoğan only attributes the CHP's ability to receive votes from groups it could not reach in the past to its own mistakes, but I see this as a confession in terms of the arrogant and haughty understanding of power. This arrogant attitude and pride is the part where the AK Party needs to make a real self-criticism. My advice to Tayyip Bey is this: you cannot defeat your rival without knowing them. I told him that I know him very well. I won the March 31 elections because I knew my rival. If he underestimates his rival without knowing them, he will face more defeats."

In response to a question about the CHP's upcoming overseas programs, Özel said, "During my meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Victory Day on November 8, I congratulated Azerbaijan. He mentioned that the sentences and attitudes we used regarding Azerbaijan during my contacts in Europe are known and loved by the Azerbaijani people as much as by him. He invited us along with Hikmet Çetin, and we will plan that."

"WE WILL HAVE A VISIT TO CHINA AT THE END OF 2025 OR IN 2026"

Özel, who provided information about plans to organize a visit to Balkan countries, stated that they would attend the Socialist International Meeting to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 26 and in Morocco on December 21. Özgür Özel emphasized that they want to pursue a more effective policy in foreign relations, continuing; "We want to become a full member of the European Union. There are many processes that need to be repaired in terms of good alliance in Turkey-US relations. We appointed a representative to Russia, and with the contacts of our representative, we are in more effective relations with Russia. The Just Russia Party, which supports Putin, also requested a meeting with us. They will come to visit us, and we will send a delegation to visit them. The Russian Ambassador visited me. I explained our perspective to them. I said, 'I don't easily appreciate Erdoğan's foreign policy, but I will continue his balanced and mediating policy regarding Ukraine-Russia if needed.' We will have a visit to China at the end of 2025 or in 2026. We will have a trip to Turkish Republics in February and to the Middle East in March."

"I THINK WE WILL RECEIVE A RESPONSE WITHOUT MUCH DELAY"

In response to a question, Özel stated that they are waiting for a date from the other side regarding their requests to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying, "There is a balance between Russia, Erdoğan, and Assad there. They are probably waiting to give us a date for that reason. I think we will receive a response without much delay. We are also waiting for the airspace to open in Palestine. Mahmoud Abbas invited us. We need to go to Tel Aviv and pass from there. There are no scheduled flights due to airstrikes in Israel and the closed airspace. We will go when they say, 'It is safe, you can come.'"

"THERE IS SATISFACTION WITH CHP MANAGEMENT'S POLICIES ON THE STREET"

In response to a question about intra-party opposition and discussions regarding the charter congress, Özgür Özel replied; "This discussion has reached a saturation point at a certain level. I also said that we have ended these discussions and will not continue them. Something that is not on the street has no counterpart in the congress hall. There is satisfaction with the policies of the CHP management on the street. Any discussion outside of this pulls the party down. Every month we talk about the citizens' problems, we have been the first party in the polls. The agendas that are attempted to be created on social media are very artificial, ordered, and occur through someone printing money with bot accounts. Those who know that internal turmoil in the CHP pulls the party down are funding this discussion on social media."

In response to a question about MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statements regarding terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan, Özel stated, "Erdoğan said, 'We are in agreement with Bahçeli, he made a very courageous statement.' I think this is more of a project of the People's Alliance than a state project. However, I believe that the state will be open to a solution that will not disturb the nation and will prevent resources from being spent on the terrorist problem. It is not right to engage in constitutional negotiations just to keep Erdoğan in power and to make the leader of the terrorist organization a bargaining chip over his freedom."

"I BELIEVE WE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING TOGETHER"

Özel, in response to a question about the process of determining the CHP's presidential candidate, stated, "I will not make this decision alone. I plan to determine the candidate in the most participatory way. I will share this burden with at least 1.5 million people. I believe we will do the right thing together. First, the government will change, there will be a transition period. After that, there will be positions for everyone. Therefore, we will emerge from this with a great consensus, cooperation, and unity of power. Then, when we start to manage Turkey with a strong parliament and executive, there will be positions for everyone who wants to govern from the heart."

THE POSSIBILITY OF MANSUR YAVAŞ RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT WAS ALSO ASKED

In response to a question about the possibility of Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş running for president, Özel stated; "Mansur Bey has a request for better governance of Turkey. At this point, he also has an ambition, and there can be nothing more natural than that. I believe that Mansur Bey will respect the results of the decision-making process that includes all CHP members in every aspect. He also has his own statements on this matter. He has not had an attitude that would disappoint in terms of party discipline so far."