Özgür Özel's presidential candidacy statement: 'An undeniable reality'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel gave clear messages regarding the presidential candidacy debates in a statement to Sözcü's Güney Öztürk.

Özel gave the following response to a question asked after Mansur Yavaş's words, "Let one of us do it, whoever it may be":

"I think that making myself a candidate would stand in the way of a fair election. Because a person who has the possibility of candidacy may inevitably lose their objective perspective. I have said this before, and I have fulfilled this promise once."

"EKREM İMAMOĞLU BECAME TURKEY'S CANDIDATE"

Recalling the method followed in the March 31 elections, Özel said that a similar process could be applied to the presidential candidacy:

"We said we would determine the most accurate candidate with the widest possible participation. On March 23, 15.5 million people voted. Ekrem İmamoğlu became not just mine or the party's, but officially Turkey's candidate."

"MANSUR YAVAŞ IS AN UNDENIABLE OPTION"

Stating that they could resort to polls as well as ballot boxes in the candidate determination process, Özel said the following:

"We will act with the most participatory and accurate method possible. Sometimes this does not mean putting a ballot box out again; you conduct a poll and the name that will win the election emerges. You go to the election with that person and you win. Mr. Mansur is also an undeniable option under these conditions."

The CHP leader emphasized that his personal goal is not the presidency, but that his main objective is to be a chairman who wins elections.

"IF I CANNOT MAKE THE PARTY FIRST, I WILL QUIT"

Reminding of the commitments he made in the past, Özel explained his party's goal of coming to power as follows:

"Bülent Ecevit had brought the party to first place in the two local and two general elections he entered. I also committed to bringing the party to first place. I achieved this in the local elections. If I make the CHP the first party in the first general election, Tayyip Erdoğan will be gone. If I cannot, I will resign."

Expressing his hope for the post-AKP period, Özel said,he stated,"This means the end of a 25-year nightmare in Turkey.There is nogreater pride than being the person whoachieves this."he used the expressions.

"I WANT TO BE THE COMMANDER WHO WINS THE VICTORY"

Özel concluded his words by saying, "You ask me, 'What do you want for yourself?' What more could I want; I want to be the commander who wins the war. Whichever of our party members the presidency falls to, this honor will be theirs. My duty is to remain in an objective position to make the most accurate decision."