CHP leader Özgür Özel points to March 2! 'I am announcing this for the first time...'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel made statements regarding the current agenda.

Responding to questions from Nefes, Özel spoke about the prison visitation permits that have not been granted for his party's imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the new constitution, and the rally program.

Pointing to March 2, Özgür Özel said they would announce a 350-person team and 20 prominent promises, and added the following:

"We have opened a Presidential Candidacy Office (CAO). We have incorporated the party school into the party structure. We are putting up a great resistance in one place, while at the same time, 130 people working on the party program, government program, and election promises like bees in a hive are working on Çevre Street. I chair the CAO every 15 days. I am announcing this here for the first time. On March 2, we will put a 350-person team, a snapshot, in front of Turkey. We will appear before Turkey with a presentation explaining our 20 prominent promises and how we will produce permanent solutions to this country's problems. March 2 will be a start, a beginning for the 20 promises. There will be a basic citizenship income and there will also be surprises. We will explain the things we do not want to be imitated during the election period. Everyone must hear the promise of 3 hot meals a day in schools. On March 9, Ekrem İmamoğlu will stand before the indictment. We are in the biggest election campaign in world political history. We are on the 338th day. We had said, 'We will run a 1000-day campaign if necessary.' A third of it is over, two-thirds remain. When twice the time that has passed has passed, we will have gotten rid of the AK Party. On December 14, 2027, I will either be in power or on the thousandth day of our march to power."

"IF THEY DO NOT ALLOW VISITS WITH EKREM PRESIDENT, WE WILL BE ON THEIR CASE"

Speaking about prison visitation permits following Akın Gürlek becoming the Minister of Justice, Özel said, "We meet with Ekrem President almost every week. We could not meet this week; I did not have an application. However, permits were not issued to those who did apply either. There might be an excuse for this for 2-3 days. But if they do not allow visits with Ekrem President, we will be on their case. He will grant that permit; there is no such thing as not granting it."

Also on Özel's agenda were the "Standing Up for the National Will" rallies. Stating that he would organize rallies in Istanbul's 3 electoral districts, Özel pointed to Eyüpsultan for the second district, and Kadıköy or Üsküdar for the first district. Saying that for the third district, “It could be a district where an operation is taking place,” Özel said, “There will be a rally in Saraçhane on March 19.”

NEW CONSTITUTION DISCUSSIONS

Touching upon the constitutional discussions, Özel emphasized that they do not look favorably upon conducting such a process with the current government. Saying, “We have no intention of making a constitution with this government,” Özel stated that what the government is aiming for under the name of constitutional amendment must be well analyzed. He underscored that they would not accept being treated as a main actor in a constitutional study in which the CHP is not involved and is left out of the process.

Making evaluations based on the US statements regarding Iran and the possibility of a war, Özel said, “One must not forget the March 1 memorandum.” Referring to Erdoğan, Özel stated, “We are talking about someone, Erdoğan, who committed to the March 1 memorandum to America.” He added that if Erdoğan enters into a negotiation similar to the Iraq process with the US, Bahçeli's stance would be decisive.

İMAMOĞLU'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY

Reiterating his clear stance on Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy, Özel said, “The reason I say ‘My A, B, C, Z plan is İmamoğlu’ is this. Even if he is inside, our candidate is Ekrem President, as long as his diploma returns.”

Özel also recounted a dialogue he had during a “routine shopkeeper visit” he made in Fatih after the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality election was canceled. Describing the conversation he had with a shopkeeper, Özel shared the following:

“I have weighed bulgur here for 40 years, I have weighed beans. When it reaches the balance, I throw in another handful so that the customer is not wronged. I have been voting for Tayyip Bey for 30 years. I will continue to vote for whoever he says. But this time, I will vote for Ekrem. Because a right was violated, my son. I do not eat the rights of others.”

Describing the reason for the gap increasing from 13 thousand to 806 thousand in the repeated Istanbul election as “Anatolian wisdom,” Özel stated that it would not be right to put forward a new candidate without making Erdoğan pay the political price for Ekrem İmamoğlu not being able to be a candidate.

News Source: 12punto