CHP leader Özgür Özel reminds Meral Akşener of May 14-28: 'We will not play into Erdoğan's hands'

CHP leader Özgür Özel spoke at his party's parliamentary group meeting.

Özel drew attention to the preliminary report prepared by his party regarding the cyanide mining disaster that occurred in the İliç district of Erzincan.

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

"Valuable voters of the AKP and MHP, those environmental engineers and academics whom you have called traitors for years have always pointed out the danger. Three years ago, there was a cyanide leak there. They stopped it for 3 months as a token gesture. They investigated, found the culprit, and fined them 16 million liras. When you hear it, you think it's a large amount of money; yet only months later, this company benefited from a tax amnesty in the Planning and Budget Committee."

RESPONSE TO BAHÇELİ'S KURUM STATEMENT

All our citizens should hear this; not even 2 million can change hands without Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's knowledge. These mines first received permits, an EIA report was prepared, and when they applied to expand 4-5 times, an EIA report was prepared; we are reminding Minister Murat Kurum of this responsibility. Murat Kurum is not taking responsibility.

Bahçeli has come out and said, 'The fault lies with those who prepared the report, Murat Kurum has nothing to do with the matter.'

Under this report that allowed for a 5-fold expansion, there is the signature of the General Director of EIA, just as Devlet Bey says. The General Director signs 'on behalf of the Minister.' Oh, Devlet Bey! As someone who knows how the state functions, you are saying that the Minister is not responsible for the signature of the General Director whom he told to sign on his behalf. Yet the document says it was signed on behalf of Kurum. I am telling our citizens: if it happened with a signature cast on behalf of the minister, I leave this to your conscience.

CRITICISM OF STATE ROYALTIES

We commemorated Mr. Baykal, who became a member of parliament at the age of 35. He was the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in the Ecevit government. Baykal was going to put a stop to the plundering of mines and their being handed over to cronies, and he was going to nationalize all the mines.

'The Constitution still says mines belong to the state.' After the junta, the 10 percent state royalty for every mine to be extracted in Turkey was reduced to 2 percent by the AKP.

Depending on the price of gold, the state royalty can be 1 percent or 12 percent. According to this calculation, if the price of gold falls, the state royalty in Turkey also falls. While the extracting company makes money with its 98 liras, if gold prices are falling, they lower our share by saying 'I will give you more than 2 percent,' which is a lie."

REMINDED OF KKM

While criticizing the government through the economy, Özgür Özel stated that they have created a wealthy elite through incentives and tax amnesties.

Stating that these companies were told not to buy dollars and that the KKM (Currency-Protected Deposit) system was developed for this reason, Özgür Özel said that the cost of the system is being paid by retirees and other low-income segments of society.

'ERDOĞAN' RESPONSE TO AKŞENER

Stating that he listened to Meral Akşener's statements carefully, Özgür Özel emphasized that he would give a very harsh response to her, but said, "God bless you."

Özel also said the following:

"We stand by those we deemed worthy of the presidency and vice presidency in the last election; we would vote for them with peace of mind. We will not fight with the opposition and play into Erdoğan's hands. We will not be part of any tension that does not benefit the nation."

'BLACKMAIL' RESPONSE TO ERDOĞAN

Responding to AKP President Erdoğan, who addressed CHP voters, Özel said, "Is there any fool in front of you who will believe that the stone in your heart has softened? Do you see anyone in front of you who will give credit to a blackmailer who tells Ordu, 'If I am here, there is natural gas'? When you hold a mirror to the CHP, they will turn it back on you. When you look at it, you will see a blackmailer who threatens the nation that created you, someone who enriches his own circle and leaves the nation to poverty and misery, and a politician so rotten that he would have Abdullah Öcalan's letter read when he realizes he will lose the local elections," he said.

'SEPTIC TANK' RESPONSE TO ŞEVKİ YILMAZ

Responding to former Welfare Party MP Şevki Yılmaz, who insulted the founders of the Republic at the wedding of the 5th generation grandson of Sultan Abdulhamid II, Özel said, "You cannot talk to Şevki Yılmaz in a normal way. You will find a septic truck and transport him to where he belongs."

HATAY AND LÜTFÜ SAVAŞ DECISION

Özgür Özel also spoke about the candidacy of Lütfü Savaş, who faced backlash for being one of those responsible for the massive destruction in Hatay following the earthquakes.

Explaining that they spent the most time on Hatay, that they first nominated Lütfü Savaş based on survey measurements, and that they made other calculations by taking the reactions into account, Özgür Özel spoke as follows:

"We worked on it, we did what was necessary. Lütfü Savaş did not want to appear in the commercial film. We asked for a survey that was in the field until the last day at the launch meeting. Mr. Lütfü Savaş did not take part there either; he showed understanding. The next day we gathered at our headquarters. A total of 40 people sat in our MYK hall. All surveys were evaluated. On one side are the earthquake victims being blackmailed by the AKP, and on the other side, in line with our organization and the surveys conducted, at 03:00 in the morning, as an earthquake victim who also lost his relatives, and noting the statements he made on the first night, and by making our own self-criticism, when we look at the course of all data, information, and surveys regarding Hatay falling under the yoke of the AKP, we decided to continue with Mr. Lütfü Savaş in Hatay. It is clear what will happen if Hatay falls into the hands of the AK Party. We will be in solidarity with Hatay with all our municipalities in Turkey. If there is a city that will not bow to someone who threatens to leave Hatay desolate, it is Hatay. Erdoğan will see this on March 31."

LED THE CHANT FROM THE PODIUM

The duty of all CHP members in the March 31 elections is to fight against Erdoğan and the AKP and MHP, which resemble each other more every day. Arguing that the criticisms and reactions towards the government have not disappeared and that they have not disturbed any democratic segment with their candidates, Özgür Özel said, "I invite all patriots, nationalists, republicans, and everyone against lies and plunder to unite in the Turkey alliance against the People's Alliance. Against the dark gray color of the People's Alliance, the color of our alliance is the color of Turkey; it is red and white. I ask for votes from whoever rejoices when the National Team scores a goal in the Turkey alliance, and whoever reads the National Anthem with teary eyes."

Özel said 'red' to the CHP group, and received the response 'white'.

News Source: 12punto