19.10.2025 13:10
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, spoke at his party's 39th Ordinary Provincial Congress in Manisa. Responding to questions about who the candidate would be if Ekrem İmamoğlu is not nominated, Özel said, "They are asking us who will be the presidential candidate in place of President Ekrem. There is one, it's not me, it's you; everyone sitting in this hall is my presidential candidate. Just as much as you are. One era will close, and a new era will open."
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CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel attended the 39th Ordinary Provincial Congress of his party in Manisa. The previous Mayor of Manisa, Ferdi Zeyrek, who passed away in the congress hall, was also remembered. Zeyrek's photo was placed in the hall with the note "We will not forget." In the congress, CHP Manisa Provincial Chairman İlksen Özalper is running as the sole candidate.
"WE SAID WE WILL CHANGE MANISA AND TURKEY"
CHP General Chairman Özel said the following in his speech at the podium: "We came out of this hall by electing Ferdi as the provincial chairman. We also came out of this hall as one fist, leaving aside years of struggle as Manisa. We said, 'From here on, we will change Manisa and we will change Turkey.'
Ferdi is a brother with whom I have dreamed since our youth, and we have realized our dreams together. After Ferdi became the provincial chairman at that provincial congress, we all hit the road together for my candidacy for the general chairmanship. And during that process, everyone in Manisa welcomed us with enthusiasm, just like the enthusiastic reception we received when we entered the hall, and they stood behind us. They ran with me to wherever they could breathe across Turkey.
"MANISA WAS THERE WITH 2500 PEOPLE"
When we entered the convention hall, we took a lap in the Arena hall just like we are here. After a while, we faced the Istanbul delegation, which was crowded. Özgür President pointed and said, "Mr. President, there is Istanbul." Indeed, Istanbul was giving great support with maybe 800 people in the hall. Then we turned the corner. Manisa was there with 2500 people, you were there. At that moment, I heard Ferdi's voice behind me. Özgür Çelik said to the president, "Look, this is Manisa, bro, how did this happen?" That day, as the Provincial Chairman, you stood by me with Ferdi President, and from that day on, we all started to believe in bigger dreams together.
'PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY' STATEMENT
"That day, let's say we couldn't make a candidate. A soldier from the party will be a candidate, but there will be no slightest decrease in the struggle, and we will carry this process together. Now they are asking us about the presidential candidate in place of Ekrem President. I have always thought and said this in the past: 'Do you have a presidential candidate in place of Ekrem President?' I say, 'Yes,' 'Who?' 'Honestly, it's not me, it's you.'
Everyone sitting in this hall is my presidential candidate. My presidential candidates are you. Just as much as you are mine. It is time to get up in the morning and say, 'Oh no, what will happen to us today?' Instead, it is time to get up and say, 'Come on, we are one day closer to power.'
Özel concluded his speech with the words, "Those who love me should follow me. Are we ready to walk towards power, to close one era and open another? One era will close, another will open, those who love me, those who love their country, should follow me. Democrats will win, Republicans will win, those who love Atatürk, those who love this country will win!"
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