Faik Öztrak to Özgür Özel's administration: 'They played politics like they were in an arcade'

CHP Tekirdağ MP Faik Öztrak broke his silence following the "absolute nullity" crisis within the party and the court's decision to cancel the party congress. Making statements at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Öztrak criticized the headquarters administration under the leadership of Özgür Özel. Arguing that the party was poorly managed and left vulnerable to judicial intervention, Öztrak said, "The administration that allowed itself to be invalidated in court played politics as if they were in an arcade. They thought they could just keep inserting coins and continue every time they lost the game."

Following the cancellation of the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP by the court and the precautionary reinstatement of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to the position of chairman, the internal party reckoning has moved to the parliamentary floor. Former party spokesperson and Tekirdağ MP Faik Öztrak directed harsh accusations at current and former management figures ahead of tomorrow's critical group meeting.

"BY COURT DECISION, KILIÇDAROĞLU IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHP"

Giving clear messages regarding the judicial process, Öztrak emphasized that the party's current leader is legally Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu:

"The court has canceled the 38th Ordinary General Congress of the CHP. It has suspended the administration of that period as a precautionary measure. It has decided that the previous Chairman, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and the party organs shall continue their duties as they were. As a result of the injunction issued with this decision, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is the Chairman of the CHP."

Implying that irregularities committed during the congress lie behind the nullity crisis, Öztrak attacked the administration of the period with the following words: "Where are we to put the confessions of your closest associates that they conducted operations to buy the will of the delegates at the congress? What are we to do with the allegations that public power was used to provide financial benefits to delegates to corrupt their will? Are we to ignore that the elections and voting were rigged?"

"INSTEAD OF DEMANDING ELECTIONS, THEY CHOSE NORMALIZATION WITH ERDOĞAN"

Arguing that the Özgür Özel administration squandered the success of the local elections, Öztrak criticized the "normalization" steps with the following words:

"In the 2024 local elections, our people made the CHP the leading party and dealt a major blow to the legitimacy of the palace at the ballot box. However, for some reason, the administrators of our party at that time chose to normalize relations with Erdoğan, the chairman of the rival party and the architect of the one-man regime that is bleeding the nation dry, instead of immediately demanding elections. They rolled out the red carpet for him, hoisted the palace's seal on our party's flagpole, and demanded that our deputies stand to greet him in Parliament."

Öztrak further stated that the presidential candidacy process was initiated prematurely, dragging the party into internal competition, and that the public's poverty was overlooked because refuting allegations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor became the party's sole agenda. Reminding that 17 mayors had transferred to the AK Party during this period, Öztrak reacted by saying, "You must dress where you undressed."

"ALLEGATIONS OF RECEIVING CASH FROM MUNICIPALITIES AND BRIBERY ARE UNACCEPTABLE"

Addressing the financial scandals and bribery allegations shaking party corridors, the experienced politician stated that one cannot remain silent:

"Allegations that a person sitting in the Chairman's seat received cash from mayors, that official vehicles were furnished with municipal funds, that bribes were taken for nominations, and images regarding the private lives of elected officials are causing our party to be seriously questioned by the public. In the CHP founded by Atatürk, these allegations are absolutely unacceptable. They cannot be brushed aside with silence or wordplay, nor can they be covered up."

"TOMORROW'S GROUP MEETING MUST BE A TURNING POINT, THE IMAGE OF A HOUSE IN DISARRAY MUST END"

Stating that an attempt is being made to create a "parallel" administration in the parliamentary group against the headquarters and expressing that this chaos only benefits the Palace, Öztrak called for unity for tomorrow's group meeting:

"With their mistakes, they have rolled a massive boulder into our party's path. Everyone, especially those who did this, must put their hands under the stone and remove this boulder from our way."

"I believe that tomorrow's group meeting should be a milestone in ensuring the unity and integrity of our party. It is time to restart the CHP's march to power by standing together. To quickly get out of this quagmire, we must end the image of a house in conflict."

News Source: 12punto