Özgür Özel responds once again to his party's İmralı decision: Notable remarks directed at the MHP

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel explained the background behind his party's decision "not to take part in the İmralı delegation."

Emphasizing that the parliamentary process commission's visit to İmralı had been planned long in advance, Özel stated that the invitation to the CHP was extended before the visit was even placed on the commission's agenda. Reiterating that a high-level AKP official had conveyed that measures could be taken to hide the visit from the public, Özel said, "They are acting as if they are doing something shameful."

Speaking to BirGün, Özel explained the process behind the CHP's decision not to go to İmralı as follows:

"WE KNOW THE STANCE OF MHP VOTERS"

“We combined all the data and made the decision together. We took everyone's opinion. Then, we matured the decision together and informed our colleagues. We conducted very detailed surveys on what all segments of society think about the İmralı visit. In fact, we are the only party that knows what the stance of MHP voters is. We also looked at the party breakdowns of all voters and made a decision accordingly.

If there is a solution and peace at the end of the process, this will be a very good thing for Turkey. We support this. There are difficulties, bumps, and potholes on this path. For example, the operations that lasted throughout the summer were a difficulty for us. On September 2, when a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency and 5,000 police officers entered the party building, it was not easy to answer the question, 'Are you still going to sit at the table?' We went through a number of difficulties.

"A CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT DESTRUCTIVE DECISION"

The İmralı visit is also a bump on this path. I object to the İmralı visit being treated as a junction. The MHP passed this bump. The MHP has conveniences at this point. They applaud standing up when they throw a rope, and they applaud when they say, 'I will go to the island'... Therefore, the MHP jumped over the İmralı bump with its wheels off the ground. The AKP passed over that bump by braking until the last moment.

The DEM Party does not see it as a bump anyway. Their desire regarding this visit is understandable. Instead of trying to pass over this bump and crashing the car somewhere, we passed by the side of the bump. But we continue to walk on the path for a solution.

In any case, the MIT has perhaps been meeting with İmralı since the day Erdoğan was elected. They had attacked us back then because we said, 'They have been meeting with İmralı for over a year.' When the commission was opened, it was learned that they had been meeting for even longer. Now, at this point, we are continuing on our way. Therefore, this decision taken by the CHP, while also considering the expectations of its own voters, is actually not a destructive decision, but a constructive one.”

Evaluating the reactions of those referred to as internal party opposition that spilled over onto social media, Özel summarized his "inclusive stance" with the words, "The friends who are opposed to me stated their expectations while our new group deputy chairman was being elected, saying, 'Let it be someone with Özgür Özel's fairness and inclusiveness.'"

Özel also noted the following:

"YOU CANNOT EMBRACE A HEDGEHOG"

“Of course, we will be embracing in the new period as well. But sometimes you cannot embrace a hedgehog. The person does not let themselves be embraced. Currently, the people I cannot embrace or whom we do not embrace are not people we cannot embrace due to us. We are taking steps, but there are those who do not want to embrace me due to their own agendas.

While we were heading to the convention, there were those who came to the Chairman's office door in Parliament, left an envelope, and left. I saw the note on television before I opened the envelope. Now, if those friends hadn't given that note to the television, I would have called those friends to chat as the first thing when I read it.”

After the indictment, there are those who say, 'Let's conduct a trial within ourselves.' A lawsuit has already been filed. Aziz İhsan Aktaş is obliged to prove those allegations. A trial is already being conducted. We say, broadcast that trial on television.

"NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH DISCIPLINE"

On one hand, a trial will be held, and on the other hand, we will conduct a trial. I mean, with what authority and by accessing what information or documents? Regarding the indictment, statements that accept the indictment as true are a great disappointment for us. For example, there are statements that cover up the lack of evidence in the indictment and attribute importance to the indictment. It is not possible to evaluate these within party discipline or within the law of party membership.

Statements made one day or three days before the acceptance of the indictment are also an injustice to our friends who are inside, and to their families and children. Let no one expect us to surrender to an indictment that has not based its allegations on concrete evidence.”