Critical meeting from Özgür Özel: CHP begins countdown for March 2

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel held a meeting yesterday at the Presidential Candidate Office ahead of March 2, when he will announce a 350-person team and 20 promises.

During the meeting with policy board members, issues in the fields of technology, particularly working life, environmental policies, and energy, as well as the solutions developed by the CHP regarding these topics, were discussed.

According to a report by Cumhuriyet, party sources stated that all of these efforts will be announced to the public at a meeting to be held at the party headquarters next Monday. Officials commented, “It will be a launch meeting, like a preview of our promises. Our policy board chairs have so far issued press statements showing what solutions we are considering for the country's problems in the economy, the fight against drugs, health, agriculture, the fight against violence against women, and many other topics. Our chairman will hold a meeting that brings all of these together and announces them under headings. Our policy board chairs will also be there with their board members. We will present our governing staff and a preview of our policies that will later turn into election promises.”

It was stated that the main slogan of the meeting would be “Together with the Nation, at the Service of the Nation.”

CHP officials also touched upon the polemic that took place over the past weekend between Özel and AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding agricultural subsidies. Arguing that the government is now forced to respond to the opposition's criticisms on many topics, the officials pointed to the promotional films prepared for earthquake housing and the “billboard iftar dinner” practice of Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan as examples.

"THERE IS NO UNDERSTANDING OF PRODUCING SOLUTIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT"

The officials stated, “Everyone is talking about the country's problems. Things are not going well. People are complaining and they can no longer brush this off. Erdoğan is also forced to respond. There is currently no understanding of producing solutions in the government in Turkey. That is why they are trying to explain earthquake housing with a promotional film. They are putting up billboards for iftar. They are trying to create a perception through advertising.”

"IF THERE IS AN ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT MEETINGS WITH İMAMOĞLU..."

On the other hand, following the appointment of Akın Gürlek as Minister of Justice, allegations that visits to the CHP's imprisoned presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu would be restricted were also evaluated within the party. Recalling that statements made last week indicated that “there were permission issues due to the change of minister and administrative changes,” the officials stated that they were told the problem would be solved this week and that they would monitor the process.

The first person to visit İmamoğlu in the new week was CHP Deputy Chairman Sezgin Tanrıkulu. However, evaluating the behind-the-scenes information that legal regulations would be made to make meetings with prisoners even more difficult, the officials recalled what Erdoğan experienced while he was imprisoned during his time as mayor.

The officials said, “When Erdoğan was imprisoned during his mayoral term, he released a poetry cassette. He had visitors every day. Let alone political visits, he had all kinds of visitors. None of his freedoms were restricted. It is unacceptable for him to torment someone else now or treat them like a prisoner. If there is an attempt to restrict İmamoğlu's meetings or his working environment, we will react at the highest level.”

News Source: 12punto