Özgür Özel issues a challenge regarding the party congress lawsuit! What will he do if a trustee is appointed?

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel was in Bayburt for the "Defending the National Will" rally. There, he answered questions from Halk TV columnist İsmail Saymaz.

"I WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A DECISION OF NULLITY OR A TRUSTEE"

Making assessments regarding the current agenda, Özel stated that he would not recognize a potential decision of nullity or the appointment of a trustee that could be issued on June 30 regarding the congress lawsuit. Özel spoke as follows:

"I will not recognize the decision. If a decision of nullity or a trustee is issued, I will not recognize it. Just as there was a trustee decision for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality—or rather, a trustee intention—we did not recognize it and we went and defended the national will... I will defend the will of the delegates, the members, and everyone who voted for us. If a decision of nullity is issued, in my eyes, that too is null. It is void."

When asked what the decision would mean in practice, Özel replied:

"The party will continue to be managed without breaking its own hierarchy. We will somehow overcome and complete the legal process."

"I WILL NOT LET THE FLAG FALL"

Emphasizing that he views the chairmanship as a trust, Özel continued:

"There is one thing I understand in politics. They hand you the flag. That flag does not fall to the ground until you die. They gave you authority at the congress, saying, 'Don't drop the flag in your hand, brother.' They gave the authority of Istanbul on March 19. The flag will not fall before you. You will fall, but the flag will remain in your hand. If you put that flag aside, thinking, 'Let me fall, I'll take it again later'... They won't give it back. That is why you must know how to protect the trust given to you.

Politics is not done with guided judiciaries or such. I do not give even a one-percent chance that such a decision will come out of this case in Ankara on June 30 or later. But if a decision does come out, I will neither throw the flag I was entrusted with to the side, nor will I let it fall from my hand. I will not give it to anyone, until the congress... The chairmen of the CHP change at the congress."

İMAMOĞLU-KILIÇDAROĞLU MEETING

Özel also evaluated Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's visit to Ekrem İmamoğlu. Stating that he was aware of the meeting beforehand and that it took place with his knowledge, Özel noted the following:

"After these developments, Ekrem Bey said to me, 'I am thinking of writing a letter to Kemal Bey and inviting him. Would you find it appropriate?' I said, 'Of course I would.' Ekrem Bey informed me through his lawyer, 'Kemal Bey will come on this day.' After the meeting took place, he said he had the necessary conversation with Kemal Bey and wanted to convey these to me, but I will see him on Monday."

"THE PUBLIC EXPECTS A STATEMENT FROM KILIÇDAROĞLU"

Özel emphasized that there is an expectation in the public for a statement from Kılıçdaroğlu. He stated that it is important for the party for Kılıçdaroğlu to clarify the rumors regarding the court process and the congress:

"He thinks it is important for the party that Kemal Bey clarifies this issue. As you know, there have been statements from a bunch of lunatics. The MASAK report came, it is clean. A lie was told that 1,200 phones were distributed. It turned out there wasn't a single phone. It was said that four currency exchange offices were opened. It turned out the offices were not opened."

"I HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS"

Stating that he does not have any expectation of a statement from Kılıçdaroğlu, Özel emphasized that the responsibility is not personal but institutional:

"I don't have any. I don't have the slightest concern about June 30. It would not suit me to state an expectation. If there is something that needs to be done, they will decide and do it themselves. Whatever I say would be inappropriate. The responsibility placed upon them by having served as chairman of this party is not to meet the expectations of any of us, but to do what is right for the party."

"ERDOĞAN CRITICIZES ISRAEL BUT DOES NOT SAY A WORD ABOUT TRUMP"

Özgür Özel criticized President Erdoğan for insincerity regarding Israel's attacks on Gaza and the rising tension in the region. He highlighted Erdoğan's silence toward Trump:

"Israel turned the American elections into an opportunity and embarked on a genocide in Gaza. Trump paved the way for Netanyahu's pro-Israel stance. Trump is calculating to seize those places on top of the genocide in Gaza and to have a say over the rich hydrocarbon deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The fact that Erdoğan criticizes Israel but does not say a word about Trump shows where he essentially stands on the issue."

"HALK TV IS BEING TARGETED FOR SILENCE"

Özgür Özel commented on the arrest warrant issued for Cafer Mahiroğlu, the owner of Halk TV. According to Özel, this decision directly targets the television's broadcasting activities:

"He has set some goals for himself here. One of them is the opposition and free press. The main purpose is to silence Halk TV in the person of Mahiroğlu. The target here is not Mahiroğlu as an individual, but the facts. He has issued an arrest warrant for the truth."

"I WASHED FERDİ ZEYREK'S BODY"

Explaining that he personally performed the funeral rites for Manisa Metropolitan Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who passed away recently, Özel shared what friendship and loyalty mean with these words:

"He was a very close friend of mine. We have known each other since our 20s. I washed him. After he was shrouded, I took the family in one by one. I washed him together with the religious scholars. Someone from the family needs to do this. You cannot leave your funeral to two scholars. He is not washed like a person with no one. Someone will be there. This is how we live in Manisa. Everyone does it. People expect something. They expect a man to shed his identity and wear new clothes when he becomes chairman. We are who we are in our normal lives."