29.07.2025 17:14
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, announced his condition for supporting the Terror-Free Turkey Commission. Özel stated, "During this process, neither Figen Yüksekdağ can remain in prison, nor can Selahattin Demirtaş, nor can Ekrem İmamoğlu, nor can Ahmet Özer. We will participate in a commission where these issues can be discussed, resolved, and the matter can progress."
CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel answered journalists' questions regarding the Terror-Free Turkey Commission in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
When asked whether he would send a member to the parliamentary commission, Özel stated, "The commission must be formed with equal representation, meaning all parties should be equally represented. If there is no equal representation, then we say that decisions must be made with a qualified majority. It must be stated by the Speaker of the Assembly that a qualified majority will be sought so that we can be in this commission," he expressed.
Özel, drawing attention to Demirtaş, İmamoğlu, and Ahmet Özer, who are in prison, said, "Look, today Turkey's biggest problem is democratization and fair trial issues. The release of many innocent people who are unjustly held in prisons is at stake. On one hand, there will be other releases during this process. 'Let those happen on one side, while others remain inside for political reasons on the other side.' There is no such thing, friends. Neither Figen Yüksekdağ can remain. Nor can Selahattin Demirtaş. Nor can Ekrem İmamoğlu. Nor can Ahmet Özer. Nor can our innocent, blameless bureaucrats remain just as part of a crime. We will be in a commission where these issues will be discussed, resolved, and the matter will progress," he said.
"IF THE AK PARTY AND MHP ARE DOING WHAT THEY WANT, WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE?"
Özel gave the following response to questions regarding the Terror-Free Turkey Commission:
"Our stance regarding the commission has been clear from day one. We say that this work should be carried out by the Assembly. The commission must be formed with equal representation, meaning all parties should be equally represented. What will happen then? One person's opinion will not prevail; decisions will be made through consensus. If there is no equal representation, then we say that decisions must be made with a qualified majority. Laws should be accepted with the decision of three-fifths or two-thirds of the commission, and the laws that are requested to be enacted should be recommended to the Assembly. Now, you saw the numbers that the Speaker of the Assembly wants; there is no equality. He wants 21 from the AK Party and 10 from the CHP, according to our number of seats in the Assembly. Then it must be stated by the Speaker of the Assembly that a qualified majority will be sought so that we can be in this commission. Otherwise, if the numbers of the commission are such that the AKP plus MHP are doing what they want, and if we are not needed at all, if they are looking at it this way, what are we doing there? Only when it is said that decisions will be made with a qualified majority and when decisions regarding this are made in the first meeting, then the Republican People's Party will be in this commission. However, the presence of the Republican People's Party in this commission is not for the strange expectations of Tayyip Erdoğan, nor for the guarantees of the past. This is not for such dilution. Turkey's most important issue is; terrorism will end, the tears of the soldier's mother will cease after the presidential cabinet, first the anxiety will cease. Flag-draped martyr funerals will not come to unplastered brick houses. Mothers will not cry in Turkey. The money spent there will not be spent on terrorism in our government; it will be spent on fighting poverty, it will be spent on development. If we are to be somewhere for this, we will be. Not for Tayyip Erdoğan."
ÖZEL DREW ATTENTION TO DEMİRTAŞ, İMAMOĞLU, AND AHMET ÖZER
Everyone should be afraid of the commission where the CHP is not present, not the one where it is. The Republican People's Party will not be in a place where the Republic is debated. It will not be in a place where the Republic is discussed. In a place where the columns of the Republic are being nailed, look, not where the columns are being cut; the hammer will be taken from the hand of the one who attempts to nail. But the Republican People's Party will be there if there is going to be democratization. Look, today Turkey's biggest problem is democratization and fair trial issues. The release of many innocent people who are unjustly held in prisons is at stake. On one hand, there will be other releases during this process. 'Let those happen on one side, while others remain inside for political reasons on the other side.' There is no such thing, friends. Neither Figen Yüksekdağ can remain. Nor can Selahattin Demirtaş. Nor can Ekrem İmamoğlu. Nor can Ahmet Özer. Nor can our innocent, blameless bureaucrats remain just as part of a crime. We will be in a commission where these issues will be discussed, resolved, and the matter will progress. Is it not progressing? First, we will try to advance it. No, do they want to go back? We will not be there. Tayyip Erdoğan has seen democracy as a tool. He has boarded it when it suits him, and when it does not, he has gotten off and put democracy on the shelf, attacked the ballot box, and no one will say, 'Why did you get off the democracy train?' if the Republican People's Party enters this commission… It’s as if there is a Catholic marriage. They will talk about wrong things, they will not do right things, and we will get off that commission as we got on. Tayyip Erdoğan will use this comfort throughout his life, but why would the Republican People's Party not be in a commission where it can achieve results to push democracy, especially if decisions will be made with a qualified majority? Or why would it enter just to act as a certifier, like a notary, for some things brought by the AK Party? Why this lack of confidence? The Republican People's Party is fighting fiercely. It will continue to carry on its struggle in the field, in the square, on top of the bus, and on the podium of the Assembly. No one should expect anyone from the Republican People's Party to act 'as if' they are stepping back from their mistakes or not taking a step back from their wrongs during this process. There is a coup in the country, and we are trying to repel it. The struggle in the squares will continue. There is also a ground in the Assembly where we came with the mandate given by the people. We will go to that ground, we will fight our fight. No, if that ground is not suitable for you, then the Republican People's Party will not be there anyway. No one should have any concerns or anxieties. Where the CHP is not, everything happens. If something is happening where it is, it is either a good thing, or if it is a bad thing, we are not in it anyway. Let everyone see it this way.