Özgür Özel's reaction to Erdoğan regarding the lieutenants: Will you stand on the side of Trikoupis or Mustafa Kemal?

Attending the Kubilay commemoration ceremony held in İzmir, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel directed harsh criticisms at President Erdoğan. In his remarks at the ceremony, Özel asked Erdoğan, "Will you stand on the side of Trikoupis, like the 'fez-wearing madman' Kadir, or on the side of Mustafa Kemal?" and criticized the government's recent stance.

Özel stated the following:

“Today we witnessed a program that made us all proud. The lieutenants graduated, and the third female lieutenant finished first. When that ceremony ended that day, a lynching campaign was launched on social media and in the print press. It never crossed my mind that politics could be turned into a profit-seeking endeavor over such a matter. But 8 days later, Erdoğan, who sits in the Presidential chair, instrumentalized this for politics. For the sake of a small political gain, the oath taken by the lieutenants was attempted to be portrayed as indiscipline.”

'WE ARE THE SOLDIERS OF MUSTAFA KEMAL'

Following the lieutenants' declaration that 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal,' Özgür Özel addressed President Erdoğan, saying, "If the lieutenants are removed from their glorious duties, then you will have declared to the whole world that you are standing on the wrong side." At the same time, Özel made the following call to Erdoğan:

“The commander of the lieutenants is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Now, will you stand on the side of the 'fez-wearing madman' Kadir, with whom you engage in politics and who said 'I wish the Greeks had won,' or will you stand on the side of Mustafa Kemal?”

'I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF POLARIZATION'

Stating that he is against polarization, Özel said, “I have never been in favor of polarization, but everyone will show their side. I am a soldier of Mustafa Kemal, along with those lieutenants.” 

News Source: 12punto