CHP Ankara protest against Özer, attended by Mansur Yavaş: 'We will not keep him in that seat'

The protest was attended by Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Yenimahalle Mayor Fethi Yaşar, Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan, Polatlı Mayor Mürsel Yıldızkaya, and Şereflikoçhisar Mayor Mustafa Koçak, as well as DEM Party Ankara Provincial Co-Chairs, components of the Ankara Labor and Democracy Forces, and hundreds of citizens. 

Making a statement on behalf of the party members, CHP Ankara Provincial Chair Ümit Erkol said, "We would have liked to come before you to share good news. But unfortunately, the AKP government, which has been ruling the country for 22 years, frequently brings us together to share news of disasters and to oppose news of disasters. We are in such a day again today. We do not want privileges. We are in pursuit of justice."

Stating that Ahmet Özer was detained and arrested on grounds that are not legal, Erkol said, "While he was in custody, the name of the trustee appeared in pro-government newspapers, and a process that resulted in the appointment of a trustee took place.

We do not approve of and do not accept this decision, which ignores the will of the people, to remove our mayor, who was elected by receiving more than half of the votes of the people of Esenyurt, by the political power using the judiciary and manipulating the legal system for its own interests," he said.

Stating that "The CHP is the guarantor of unity and solidarity in the country," Erkol continued his speech as follows:

"The Republican People's Party is determined to return the country to its founding settings, as it was in the early years of the republic, and to crown the new century with democracy.

We are determined to put an end to all practices that are contrary to democracy, especially the appointment of trustees. We will further increase our reaction against those who want to interfere with our social unity and integrity through political operations behind closed doors. We will not remain silent against this pressure. The CHP will continue to be the voice of unity, solidarity, peace, and brotherhood."

Reminding that the CHP came in first in the March 31, 2024 local elections, Ümit Erkol said, "The CHP became Turkey's leading party in the last elections. It received great support from the public, and CHP mayors took office in a large part of Turkey. No one has the power to remove CHP mayors, who came to power through democratic means and received their authority from the people, by using legal tools, or to change the country's agenda," he said.

Emphasizing that they are determined to protect democracy, Ümit Erkol said the following:

"The CHP is against all kinds of pressure and lawlessness, is determined to defend the will of the people, and is determined to protect democracy.

We call out once again to the political power that violates the law and democracy at every opportunity: Give up the illegal operations you are carrying out against the elected officials of this country. Do not cast a shadow over our citizens' commitment to the republic and democracy.

We will not allow the real agendas of this country to be covered up. We will remove you from there in the first election held. Our mayor, who was unjustly and unlawfully sent to prison today, will be released upon appeal. He will return to his post, and the trustee will go home.

We will not accept this gentleman, who was appointed as a deputy governor in Istanbul one day and a trustee the next. We will not keep this gentleman in that seat. Our elected mayor will return to that seat. We will continue to sustain this struggle."

News Source: 12punto