25.02.2026 22:50
Speaking at a rally organized by his party in the Bakırköy district of Istanbul, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel addressed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, saying, "We invite everyone to stand behind their words on March 9," and called for the trials related to the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to be broadcast live on TRT.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the 92nd rally of his party, organized under the slogan "Defending the Will of the Nation".
"CALL FOR THE İBB CASE TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON TRT"
Addressing the crowd gathered at Bakırköy Republic Square, Özel called on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli to broadcast the hearings in the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality live on TRT.
The relevant part of Özel's statements is as follows:
"MAKE THE LIVE BROADCAST, LET THE NATION HEAR THE ACCUSATION AND THE RESPONSE"
"They cannot talk about the country's problems, they cannot give the rights of labor, they cannot solve the problems of retirees. While the March 19 coup was expected to create a great disappointment and wave of hopelessness, and while it was expected to take us out of the struggle, it has now turned into a great hope, aware of the responsibility that falls on all of us. It is time to continue the struggle without getting tired, without ever relaxing, without taking a step back, without diminishing. We have struggled for months against lies, we stood tall. We waited for the indictment. Today, we are all waiting for March 9, when the trials will begin. On March 9, we invite everyone to stand behind their words. Mr. Bahçeli had said, 'Let it be broadcast live on TRT' in response to my call. Mr. Erdoğan also said, 'Mr. Devlet is right, we will support it.' They thought something would come out of the indictment that turned out to be completely empty, with no one standing behind it. But we knew what was happening and what would happen. The indictment came out, and there is no one standing behind it. No one is talking about the live broadcast. We are submitting the bill, and no one is voting. They want the secretive dealings and slanders to be known as much as they are published, and they do not want the responses to be heard. I am addressing both Mr. Devlet and Mr. Tayyip. If you trust your prosecutor, if you trust the allegations, if you believe in those who are forcibly made into accusers, we are here. Make the live broadcast, let the nation hear the accusation and the response. If you do not trust them, if you want these to be unheard, stop the oppression, release our friends, let the trial without detention begin, so the nation can see what is what."