Özgür Özel uses the term 'Türkiyeli'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel made statements before the Party Assembly (PM) meeting. Özel evaluated the recent developments in Syria. Özel also spoke about the refugee problem in Turkey.

"ASSAD WAS ALWAYS A DICTATOR"

Speaking about Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, Özel said, "We propose a democratic regime in Syria that will represent all ethnic and sectarian groups. This was our suggestion to Assad as well. What was Erdoğan doing at that time? He was going on family vacations with Assad. Then, an illusion was created in Turkey as if he had suddenly become a dictator. Assad was always a dictator, his father was a dictator too. Those prisons have been full of dissidents for years. Then, as if Erdoğan had just learned it, Assad suddenly became 'Esed' (a derogatory pronunciation)," he said.

"TRUMP IS NOT REFERRING TO THE TSK, BUT TO HTS"

Touching upon the words of US President-elect Donald Trump regarding AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel stated the following:

"Trump said to Erdoğan, 'He built a very strong army, he is a very smart man.' I wish he were referring to the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces); he is referring to HTS. Do you remember this tone? This is the tone in the threat letter Trump wrote to Erdoğan. Now he is patting him on the back. This statement is not just praise. There is a threat behind it. He has a task, a homework assignment for him. Otherwise, he says, remember what happened in the past. I say to the AKP members who are happy about this statement; just as that letter embarrassed me, this tone embarrassed me just as much. The President of Turkey does not deserve this. We will have a president who cannot be spoken to in this way."

The highlights from Özgür Özel's speech are as follows:

"Sir, 'Erdoğan succeeded in Syria,' Erdoğan did not succeed. 'Erdoğan won,' no, Erdoğan did not win. Israel won in Syria, America won in Syria, and an interim period has begun in Syria that is not clear how much it will serve Turkey's national interests. Now, at this point, while we should be cool-headed and defend the truth, we are facing a government and a political illusion effort trying to compensate for the defeat of the March 31 elections with what is happening in Syria...

"Today, there is a reality on Turkey's agenda where Syria, refugees, terrorism, and the Kurdish issue are all discussed together. As you know, as the CHP, we have been against the issue of Turkey's engagement with our border neighbor Syria from the very beginning. The essence and root of our call to Assad from the very beginning was for him to democratize, to reach a government that would represent Syria, democratic elections, and a democratic regime. Erdoğan had an understanding of 'let's overthrow Assad first in Syria and see what happens later.' Before that, photos hand-in-hand with Assad, going on vacations... Did Assad suddenly declare his dictatorship and Erdoğan decided to fight? There is an effort of political illusion. Yet, Assad was always a dictator. Those prisons that break our hearts were always full. There was always a suspicion of torture. Erdoğan was arm-in-arm with Assad back then. Assad did not become a dictator in one day. A role was cast for Turkey, and Erdoğan took his position. He sought ways to destroy Assad, this was not possible for 13 years. With the plan of America and Israel, and the persuasion of Russia, HTS, which Turkey should have disarmed, started its march towards Damascus against the regime in Syria."

"ERDOĞAN'S EXCITEMENT IS NOT ON THE STREET"

We see that the excitement Erdoğan feels is not on the street. There are over 4 million Syrian refugees in our country. To say we won, you either gain a military victory or gain territory. Or you make money. You have given 283 martyrs and civilian martyrs, you have lost 200 billion dollars, and you say we won.

"WE LOST 200 BILLION DOLLARS FOR SYRIANS"

Now it is time for the Syrians to return to their countries. I think they will also return by learning that having a democracy with strong roots is more important than one-man rule in Turkey.

Turkey's problem is still the over 4 million Syrians in Turkey. The temporary protection status needs to be canceled now, taking into account the conditions in Syria. We lost 200 billion dollars because we said we would take in refugees. To say we won, you either gain money or territory. You will give 283 martyrs, you will cause refugees to come to Turkey, you will lose money, and then you will say 'I was right.'

You were not right. The CHP was right. 500 thousand households of Syrians are currently living in Turkey. We have learned that causing a wave of migration in a country has heavy costs. Unfortunately, we will continue to pay the price. We have learned from Syria how valuable the foreign policy entrusted to us by Mustafa Kemal is, and that a country cannot be managed like a company.

Now it is time for the Syrians to return to their countries. The status of temporary refugees needs to be terminated following a certain schedule. The Minister says; apart from the Syrians, there are 2.2 million irregular, illegal immigrants. Nearly 6.5 million people are living in Turkey who are here and are a burden on the country.

If anyone objects to the account that Turkey lost 200 billion dollars, let them come forward and I will challenge them. This means one hundred times 70 billion... It is 100 times the money needed to give a minimum wage to retirees. We say let's make the minimum wage 30 thousand. The money needed for a 30 thousand minimum wage is 250 billion. This money is exactly 35 times that. This money is a huge amount of money. They called the earthquake the disaster of the century. According to Erdoğan's account, the cost of the disaster of the century is 100 billion dollars; the money we spent on Syrians is 200 billion dollars. The earthquake destroyed us once, Erdoğan's Syria policy destroyed us twice.

What is being talked about on the street is not what the AKP is pumping, but when they will leave and the minimum wage. Erdoğan, who said before the election, 'If necessary, we will raise it 3 times more a year, thus updating the minimum wage 4 times a year with inflation adjustment,' did not make a single minimum wage adjustment throughout 2024. When you look at the rent, transportation, and basic food expenses of a minimum wage earner, the inflation of the minimum wage earner is 78 percent. When this raise is given, it becomes 30 thousand liras. However, a welfare share should be given and it should be 35-40. We see that the expectation regarding the minimum wage is 30 and above. Our minimum wage expectation is 30, we are not below it! We will continue to carry on this struggle everywhere.

MUNICIPALITIES' SGK DEBT

Explain, who has SGK (Social Security Institution) debt. Let's see, and if necessary, let us be embarrassed. Let's see who has debt.

I want to state to Leyen that I reject this new practice of the EU. They are here during election time, they are being negotiated with. But in times of crisis, they go to Erdoğan, shake hands, and get their business done. This is a democracy, despite everything. There are 11 political parties other than the AKP-MHP. You cannot see this country as a one-man regime of a Middle Eastern geography. Shake hands with the strongmen in the Middle East, make deals, say the visible issues, but there is a world of injustice under the iceberg... I am warning the EU. We saw the Aylan babies washed ashore. We saw those who died in the boats that Greece blew up. Shake hands with the one-man, make a deal, give the money... I say to Ms. Leyen, 'Despite Erdoğan's efforts to make it dysfunctional, this country has a parliament, a CHP that won the last elections, and a CHP that will take power in the next elections. You cannot shake hands with a one-man and get your business done!'

PLAN TO MAKE SYRIANS CITIZENS

For example; in Europe, temporary protection status is given for 6 months. It is extended at most 4 times. In the end, either this business is ended or a new status is given. Turkey has been keeping more than 2 million people for 13 years. Now that regime is gone, Assad is not gone. The justification has disappeared. Temporary protection status cannot be granted due to climate, poverty, or economic crisis. We also want to express that a state determination regarding legal regulations should be implemented for them to return to their homelands by first removing incentives and then privileges. The remaining 2.2 million people in Turkey... I want Erdoğan to explain what he thinks about those who are caught but not deported. What is on his mind is this; I see that he is trying to turn his own desperation into the country's disaster by thinking that if I make at least half of the 6.5 million people citizens and let them vote in the elections, maybe I will have a chance. That is why one does not say 'those who want to go can go, those who stay are on my head (are welcome).' They are not on your head, they are on the nation's bread.

Erdoğan started making gold calculations for the first time yesterday. You can talk about many things in Turkey, the gold calculation does not fail. He has twisted and turned it, completely distorted calculations. How much gold was Uncle Mahmut buying on the day you came, what was his salary? Don't come to me with a ping-pong ball. Everyone knows their own inflation. We are facing a government that has crushed its own retirees even according to its own minimum wage. As a result of this process, we advocate for those who should be smiling in Turkey to finally smile. Mr. Tayyip last made Israel and Trump smile. They are making a Syria fuss to drown out your voices. As the CHP, we continue to defend the citizen's agenda against this artificial agenda."

The term 'Türkiyeli' (person from Turkey) used by Özel while touching upon the issue of university education before the CHP's PM meeting was shared by many accounts on social media.

Here are the expressions used by Özgür Özel:

Families with children are constantly expressing their concerns for their children's future, especially for their university education. We are evaluating whether those born in Turkey or those in Turkey will be able to have priority here when they want to receive education in Turkey, not instead of or ahead of students from Turkey, but while a world of foreign students come to Turkey from abroad.