To Mr. Kemal

Mr. Kemal, welcome….

If only you knew how happy we are…

Do you see the enthusiasm in the squares? Even the vehicles celebrated your arrival by honking their horns.

Honestly, I haven't seen such enthusiasm in all these years; I was mesmerized.

And what about the celebratory slogans being chanted?

Our happiness mingled with our tears; the party members didn't know what to do.

For years, you said, “I, Kemal, am coming!” and you succeeded; you finally arrived.

Although the target was a bit off, it doesn't matter; you arrived, and you satisfied our longings.

Believe me, you have gone down in history….

Your arrival became a milestone in Turkey. You made us believe again in the rule of law and, especially, in judicial independence. Thank God, we are at ease now; we feel secure with your presence.

I am sure you didn't know you were this loved. Especially the pro-government media broadcast for months. Thank God, they finally realized your value.

How quickly they found the clues in your last video message. They interpreted everything with such subtlety, from the painting behind you to the chair you sat on, and even that sacred crystal glass on the table.

After all, they are people of charisma; they understand charisma well.

Your backing is solid; it would have been difficult to move forward with just one or two television channels. Now, the entire media is in your palms. The pro-government channels have become your companions.

You contributed to Turkey regaining its habits.

What was it? That the CHP is marching to power, its votes have exceeded 35%, it has become the leading party… Empty talk; let the people be governed as they have been accustomed to for a quarter of a century, right?

And what about the political parties and the METU students who supported Özgür Özel against the absolute nullity decision?

I am sure you don't care at all; let them mind their own business, right?

The groups you sought reconciliation with in 2023 came to my mind.

How well you did to reconcile with the victims of the September 6-7 events, the victims of the Kahramanmaraş and Sivas massacres, the families of the youth executed on September 12, those whose homes were seized in Sulukule, the families of those who died in the Soma mining disaster, and even the family of İsmail Korkmaz, and you underlined with thick lines that the CHP was responsible for these pains. Although the CHP wasn't even in power, but never mind! The CHP is always guilty and responsible for everything.

Even the lifting of the ban on Said-i Nursi's books happened thanks to you. Because you paved the way for religious sects, this nation felt gratitude toward you, even if they didn't vote for you.

Thanks to you, the CHP became a home for everyone except CHP members. Was that a small feat?

Some felt anger at your statements declaring Atatürk's CHP guilty, saying, “We are not the CHP of the 1930s and 1940s.” They were even offended by your video shoots that equated the CHP with dinosaurs.

But never mind, you created a New-CHP by throwing the old CHP into the dustbin of history. You ran from success to success. Who could forget your generosity in the 2023 elections! You gifted exactly 39 parliamentary seats to the right-wing political parties you were friends and allies with, without expecting anything in return. There was no gain, but let it be, you said, let there be a loss.

Again, you went down in history in golden letters.

In the more than a century-long history of the CHP, no leader as open-handed and generous as you has been seen. Just so that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could be President again, you even made a second-class replica of him a presidential candidate. You etched that magnificent election slogan, 'Ekmeleddin for Bread', into memories.

Actually, your efforts are endless.

Your latest statement created a lot of excitement. You promised to return the CHP to its founding codes.

Although this statement confused people a bit—you had spent so much effort for 13 years to distance the CHP from its founding codes, and while we were wondering if these efforts would go to waste, we understood. We were quite relieved. It turns out you were talking about ending moral deformation.

Morality is a very broad concept, as you surely know. I don't want to overstep my bounds, but for example, lies, hypocrisy, and duplicitous attitudes also fall under the concept of morality.

As they say, “either appear as you are, or be as you appear”; you, of course, know this universal saying of Rumi very well.

I am also sure that you know the answer to whether the concept of morality covers those who engage in shady financial dealings and become “as rich as Croesus” while being middle-income, as well as those who protect them and continue to appoint them to important positions.

You had already entered Turkey's agenda with corruption files. We had even received instructions to report the corruption allegations that came to us to you.

I remember very well, at that time you even posed for cameras with a corruption file in your hand. I don't want to overstep my bounds, but I think it said Mustafa Sarıgül on the file.

Anyway, that's the past, let's forget it. They say, 'even the judge's daughter can have such flaws'…

Let's move on by saying “yesterday is yesterday” in politics.

Let's return to today; you have regained the seat you claimed you lost unjustly and unlawfully, so congratulations…

Not only CHP members but also the Turkish Nation, whose name you wanted to change, are grateful to you. With your presence, they have gained the assurance that the AKP government they have been accustomed to for years will continue. They slept comfortably last night too.

They found the concrete proof of the struggle you waged for the sake of democracy in your refusal to compromise on the will of the delegates.

By the way, people are curious, they are asking, “Which unfinished business did you return to complete?”

Rumors vary; some say, “You know that new constitution, the one some insolent people call the ‘division constitution,’ well, he was brought back because he is the person certain to sit at that table”….

They mention your insistence that a Constitution should still be made even though the table was dissolved during the previous solution process.

Some claim that “you returned to make the final touches to the design of transforming the CHP into the New-CHP.”

So, both claims are important, both goals are sacred and necessary for the happiness of our 'Western Friends.'

Oh, how good you did to return, Mr. Kemal; as CHP members, we are full of joy and hope.

Thanks to you, we will smell democracy in the air, taste the assurance of judicial independence again, and run from success to success.

Welcome, you have brought joy!