Özgür Özel shares poll results in Amsterdam: He addressed European politicians

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel evaluated the political atmosphere and poll results in Turkey at the Party of European Socialists (PES) Congress held in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Özel stated that despite the pressures in Turkey, his party is standing out strongly and gave important messages regarding the elections.

CHP LEAVES AKP BEHIND BY A 7 PERCENT MARGIN

Özel emphasized that the CHP is ahead of the AKP in the polls. Referring to poll results both within and outside the party, Özel used the following expressions:

“Today, the CHP is 7 percent ahead of the AKP in terms of votes. We won 65 percent of the municipalities in the local elections. We are currently 7 points ahead with 41 percent.”

Özel stated that democracy, human rights, and the right to vote and be elected are under threat in Turkey:

“In Turkey, democracy is under attack, human rights are under attack, and the right to vote and be elected is under attack. On the international stage, our country is at the center of many critical issues.”

The CHP leader stated that any criticism directed at the government leads to heavy pressure, saying:

“Journalists, intellectuals, trade unionists, business people, whoever criticizes the government is being detained and arrested. They are practically subjected to a pre-execution.”

TOUCHED UPON OPERATIONS AGAINST ARTISTS

Özel also brought the pressures on artists to the agenda:

“Police raids were conducted at 6 a.m. on artists who are opposition to the government. While the test results of some of those detained on charges of drug use may be real, a major character assassination was carried out against most of them.”

Arguing that the judiciary in Turkey has become politicized, Özel used the following expressions:

“There are main branches of parties in Turkey. There is a Women's Branch, there is a Youth Branch. In Erdoğan's party, there is also a judiciary branch.”

JUDICIAL DECISIONS REGARDING İMAMOĞLU

Criticizing the cancellation of Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma harshly, Özel said:

“He cancelled Ekrem İmamoğlu's 31-year diploma. Just so they wouldn't be presidential candidates. March 19 is a coup.”

Stating that it is not the far-right but social democracy that is rising in Turkey, Özel used the following expressions:

“It is not the far-right, but social democracy and the left that are rising in Turkey.” Özel stated that the CHP is 7 percent ahead of the AKP, expressing that their party has taken a firm step toward coming to power.

CALL TO EUROPEAN POLITICIANS

Requesting strong democratic support from Europe for Turkey, Özel said, “Ensure that Turkey's strong army is with you as part of Europe, but do not do this just through a give-and-take bargain with Erdoğan.”

ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN TURKEY WILL BE A REFERENDUM

Stating that the elections in Turkey will be like a referendum, Özel used the following expressions:

“The elections to be held in Turkey will be a referendum. Autocracy or democracy? A Turkey that is part of a coalition where autocrats are together? Or a Turkey that is part of Europe?”