He had said 'Do not fall in love with your executioner': Özgür Özel responds to reactions from DEM Party

The Republican People's Party (CHP) has left its 39th Ordinary Congress behind. The incumbent Chairman Özgür Özel, who was the sole candidate at the congress, was re-elected as chairman with a record number of votes.

Özgür Özel, who received the highest number of votes in CHP history, made statements to Nefes writer Deniz Zeyrek regarding his party's roadmap following the congress.

Evaluating his new 'A-Team' by saying, "We are setting out from today with experienced, competent friends who can explain our concerns well," Özel continued as follows:

"We will continue to fight against the pressures on our party. However, at the same time, we are marching toward power and we will show this to our people. We will tell the public, 'We will solve your problems.' There are general and concrete approaches in our party program. We have announced these. However, at the same time, our people expect concrete promises. We will prepare our government program within three months. During this time frame, we will announce our concrete promises under eight separate headings."

"WE HAVE DETERMINED 185 THOUSAND BALLOT BOX OFFICIALS"

Noting that the media is under pressure, Özel announced that their more than 2 million members will go door-to-door. Stating that they have determined 185 thousand ballot box officials for the elections, Özel said, "Ten percent of their work will be what they do on election day. At the same time, they will visit everyone in their own ballot box regions. They will not just visit; they will organize events that bring our party and the public together in their regions. I claim that we will carry out the largest campaign not only in Turkey's history but in world political history. There will be no one left who has not heard our promises and what we will do."

RESPONSE TO DEM PARTY: THEY HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE

The DEM Party front had reacted to the "Do not fall in love with your executioner" remark Özel used at the congress. Özel gave the following response to the reactions from the DEM Party:

"I did not directly target the DEM Party. I already started my sentence with 'regardless of which political party it is.' I only reminded them of what the AKP and MHP have done to Kurdish voters. They have been sensitive. Bless their hearts. As Tülay Hanım also said, I do not find it right for an opposition party to have such arguments with another opposition party. Therefore, I am not going to continue this discussion."

DID KILIÇDAROĞLU CALL ÖZEL?

Özel also answered the question regarding whether Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had called to congratulate him, saying, "I called and invited him one day before the Congress as well. He did not come, and he has not called so far." Kılıçdaroğlu did not attend the CHP's 39th Ordinary Congress.

HE ADDRESSED GÜRSEL TEKİN

Continuing his statements, Özel also addressed Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as a trustee to the CHP İstanbul Provincial Presidency, saying, "If he is a true party member, he should read the message from the congress correctly."

Laughing, Özel recalled that Tekin was trying to expel people from the party even though he was not a party member, stating, "We are struggling with our own issues. We are putting up a fight. We are not going to deal with these things."

"THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE SCRATCH ON OUR KEY LIST"

Özel responded to Tekin's statement that "In the past, an average of 400 people applied for Party Assembly membership, now it is 145," as follows:

"I think the friends who saw that the Chairman received 1333 votes did not apply out of the concern that 'under these conditions, we cannot break this chairman's key list.'"

"I was elected chairman with 1333 votes. This is the highest figure in party history. There was not a single scratch on our key list. This situation has placed a great responsibility on me and the newly elected party management. We will act with this awareness."