The Constitution, Gezi, February 28... What was discussed in the Erdoğan-Özel meeting?

Following the March 31 local elections, CHP leader Özgür Özel had stated that he could meet with President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his hometown of Manisa, and the highly anticipated meeting took place yesterday.

While much has been written behind the scenes regarding the meeting, Hürriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi has now also covered the meeting in his column.

THE HEALTH CONDITION OF ÇETİN DOĞAN

Selvi reported the following:

"It was stated that during the meeting, Özgür Özel brought up the situation of those convicted in the February 28 case through the health condition of Çetin Doğan. It was learned that Özgür Özel raised the issue of pardoning February 28 prisoners who are in poor health. President Erdoğan is said to have responded by saying, 'Let us evaluate it.'"

GEZİ DETAINEES

It was learned that Özgür Özel brought up the issue of retrial for Gezi prisoners through the cases of Can Atalay and Osman Kavala. It was stated that Özgür Özel demanded the implementation of ECHR and Constitutional Court rulings and a retrial. It was not learned what response President Erdoğan gave. After meeting with Özgür Özel, Erdoğan summoned Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç to the AK Party Headquarters for a brief meeting.

JULY 15

It was learned that the July 15 coup attempt also came up during the meeting. It was stated that Özgür Özel said, "I never called July 15 a theater." Özgür Özel was one of the deputies who came to the Parliament on the night of July 15 to resist the coup. It was Kılıçdaroğlu who called July 15 a "controlled coup."

MESSAGE OF DIALOGUE

At the end of the meeting, the two leaders said, "Let us not break off the dialogue. Let us be in dialogue on domestic and foreign issues that are in the country's favor."

NEW CONSTITUTION

It was learned that the issue of a new constitution was also brought up during the meeting. Regarding President Erdoğan's proposal for drafting a new constitution, it was learned that Özgür Özel responded by saying, "We do not see a new constitution as a priority issue. Turkey has more pressing issues. Turkey has more fundamental issues. We believe that we need to focus on those first."

News Source: 12punto