Özgür Özel addresses those in politics within the AKP: 'They will either say this or surrender to a dynasty'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel made statements regarding the current agenda at his party's parliamentary group meeting.

Our Chairman Özgür Özel is speaking at our party's TBMM group meeting. https://t.co/gGlTPZ0BeA

— CHP ???? (@herkesicinCHP) April 14, 2026

Highlights from Özgür Özel's speech are as follows:

On behalf of all our deputies, greetings to our provincial chairmen who keep the hearth fires burning in all 81 provinces, and to those who have come here from all four corners of Turkey to add their voices to ours and their breath to our own...

We have left behind a very intense week, and together we have said hello to a week that will be even more intense..

"A GOVERNMENT THAT SHRINKS THE PEOPLE'S BREAD"

We have been experiencing an economic crisis that has not ended since 2018. With the transition to the Presidential Government System, we have experienced a decline both democratically and economically, in a process where institutions and rules are disregarded and the voice of Parliament is stifled. The economy weakened due to someone's misguided economic and interest rate policies. Central Bank governors were replaced because they would not listen. The bill was always footed by our nation.

Our inflation, which should have been in the single digits, turned back from 80 percent. Foreign investors did not come, and even those already established tried to move their money out. Global giants shifted their money and investments to Balkan countries. Finally, with the civilian coup carried out on March 19, 2025, 60 billion dollars were sold off, and foreign investors left the country. This government is a government that shrinks the people's bread.

NOT WARFLATION BUT COUPLATION

In the past, economic crises were remembered by the years they occurred; now they have no year because they never end. We are in a chronic multi-crisis environment. We were also caught unprepared for the Iran war. We are first in Europe in poverty, high inflation, unemployment, and income and tax injustice. We are also dealing with an unjust government in terms of law. This administration avoids facing the consequences of the March 19 coup, which caused the most severe damage to the economy, but it cannot hide this from the world. In the presentation he made on March 1, Mehmet Şimşek says that March 19 was a period of multiple shocks.

If anyone asks what kind of government this is, you should say this: This government is a government that shrinks the people's bread.

The reason for the nation's impoverishment is Erdoğan's fear of İmamoğlu and the CHP... We can underline this.

TWO SYMBOLIC PHOTOS OF THE CRISIS...

I can show an example of the economic crisis with two photos. In Ulus, a philanthropist tries to distribute apples. The struggle of retirees for 1 or 2 apples deeply wounded us all. This photo is a photo of shame for those who govern Turkey, for the government. We promise that the government will change and no one will be a part of such a photo.

The other day, my friends brought a credit ledger. A credit ledger from a school... In these credit ledgers, you see 15 lira tea, two pastries. It is hard to bear, but you see half a grilled cheese sandwich... You see that in the canteens of this country, those who cannot afford a grilled cheese sandwich for their children are given half a grilled cheese sandwich, and that is recorded on credit. Nothing will save those who force our children into credit ledgers and enjoy their own luxuries from the hands of this nation...

BY-ELECTION TOUR TO LEADERS

To date, we have reached a consensus to a certain point with 12 party leaders. We have met with parties that have groups and deputies in Parliament, as well as those that did in the previous term. The most important part of these was undoubtedly the economic crisis the country is in. We shared a report explaining the measures and suggestions to be taken against the Iran issue. The leaders spoke about their own work.

We have another consensus with the leaders. We have a proverb that says no politician can be tried unless Melih Gökçek is tried; this is not ours, it is the saying of all politics. The fact that the party with the most broken record in political ethics is lecturing on political ethics has made everyone smile bitterly.

ADDRESSED THOSE IN POLITICS IN THE AKP

At the point we have reached, we are faced with a mentality that says 'I won't let anyone play' by taking the ball once they are defeated, once they fail to score and concede a goal.

AKP members, those who have grown up in politics, should say, "Mr. President, where are you taking us? We should not be the type to take the ball and run away when we lose, after being fine when we win." AKP members will either say this or they will surrender to a dynasty.

I am addressing those who engage in politics within the AKP, but who want to practice politics as it should be: You will either be complicit in this shame for the sake of the appointees and the dynasty, or you will stand with us in our struggle for democracy against autocracy...

We are faced with a government that is trying to run away from a by-election, from which Demirel did not run away, nor did Ecevit, Erbakan, or Türkeş.

They also removed the vote of confidence option. There is an explosion of self-confidence in the entire opposition that wants to save this country from poverty and injustice, and trembling knees in the government. We invite you once again: We challenge you, come face us if you have the courage...

THE TITLE DEED QUESTION AGAIN...

There are 16 title deeds with ID numbers; it can be seen on what date these properties were under the Minister of Justice. It has been 1 month since I made this statement, there is no response to any of them, only "There is an instruction from Erdoğan, do not respond to Özel"...

I ask once again from here, how can you remain silent against this nation? When I question these title deeds, doesn't what I say turn out to be true?

While these title deeds, the incredible assets, and the property held by spouses and friends cannot be explained, and while the state of some law firms in Çayyolu or Istanbul is known to both us and Erdoğan, some are trying to create acceptance for themselves in the Ministry of Justice and are committing a very big mistake.

CLAIM OF A MEMO FOR THE GÜLİSTAN DOKU OPERATION

We attach great importance to the operation launched this morning regarding the Gülistan Doku murder. We want all the veils of secrecy regarding the murder to be lifted.

We attach importance to the efforts towards this, we support them, but now they are doing this:

Someone who holds a seat in the Ministry of Justice and acts as a character assassin is sending a memo today: They are sending a memo saying we want the expression "the operation started with the instruction of Mr. Gürlek" and "action was taken with the instruction of Akın Gürlek" to be used in the news about Gülistan Doku.

Previous Ministers of Justice, Abdülhamit Gül, Bekir Bozdağ, Yılmaz Tunç... Akın Gürlek's press advisor claims that you do not act without caring where it leads. This note is not against me, it is against you. It is a memo that insults the professional and political ethics of all of you. Furkan Torlak attacked your dignity this time. Keep silent so I can see...

And also the black money operations... Electronic payment operations... They all came out one by one, no one is left in custody. Come on, applaud the minister...

"HE WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE HE IS OUR PROVINCIAL CHAIRMAN..."

Let's be clear: Ümit Erkol was arrested because he is our provincial chairman. If Ümit Erkol were not the CHP provincial chairman, would a single question have been asked to him regarding this file?

Our 80 provincial chairmen, other than Ümit Erkol, are in Ankara today.

I am saying this to the AK Party from here: You appointed a trustee-like organization to Istanbul, you are attacking its building, you are attacking its municipality...

You come to Ankara and arrest the provincial chairman, you take the then-chairman of İzmir. You are saying to the CHP, "I cannot fight you, I am putting your candidate in prison, I am arresting your chairmen, I am squeezing the other with an investigation because I cannot cope with you, I find the way to cope in filth." We will hold you accountable for this filth, we will teach you from beginning to end, from left to right, how politics is done...

The way out of this interim period is a by-election.

News Source: 12punto