Özgür Özel addresses AKP's search for candidates in Ankara and Istanbul

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, regarding the Constitutional Court's (AYM) second "rights violation" ruling on Can Atalay, stated, "A lot has been done incorrectly until now, but from here on, after this decision, insisting on the mistake will lead the country to disaster. Our stance and view on this matter are clear and unchanging." Özel also spoke about the AKP's search for candidates for Istanbul and Ankara.

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Özgür Özel addresses AKP's search for candidates in Ankara and Istanbul

Özel, who came to the Hacıbektaş district of Nevşehir to attend the "104th Anniversary Program of Atatürk's Arrival in Hacıbektaş," answered questions from members of the press regarding the agenda.

Upon a reporter's question, "The second decision regarding Can Atalay included the phrase 'unanimously sent to the 13th High Criminal Court.' How do you evaluate this?" Özel said that the decision rendered yesterday should be read very carefully.

Stating that although the decision at the Constitutional Court was taken by a majority vote against 3 dissenting votes, it was sent to the court unanimously for implementation, Özel continued his words as follows:

"In other words, the members of the Constitutional Court are saying that the decision 'must be implemented, no matter what.' From here on, not implementing this decision is a disregard for the law and a disregard for the Constitution. Those who do not implement this decision are denying their own existence.

Because regardless of our titles—whether we are public prosecutors, Supreme Court members, Council of State members, Constitutional Court members, members of parliament, ministers, the President, or the Speaker of the Parliament—we all derive our authority from the Constitution. Those who do not recognize the Constitution do not recognize the state, and those who do not recognize the state do the greatest harm to this country.

Therefore, a lot has been done incorrectly until now, but from here on, after this decision, insisting on the mistake will lead the country to disaster. Our stance and view on this matter are clear and unchanging."

"THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ALSO BE PROUD OF THIS"

When asked for his assessment regarding the AKP's ongoing search for candidates for Ankara and Istanbul in the local elections, Özel reminded that they had already announced their candidates for Istanbul and Ankara.

Expressing that all of Turkey is watching whether President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can field a candidate against them and watching his search for a candidate, Özel noted the following:

"You all know, all of Ankara is talking about it. They had 15 people measured against one, 12 people against the other; they cannot find a candidate to put against them. This is not a situation to be sad about; this is a situation to be proud of for us. They should not be sad at all. It means that Turkey's two largest cities, Istanbul and Ankara, are being managed so well that the ruling party cannot find a candidate to field against them. The President should also be proud of this.

I remember he used to call out to us in the past, saying, 'Hey Republican People's Party, who is your candidate?' I will not call out, 'Hey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is your candidate in Istanbul and Ankara?' Do not be sad at all, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This is something to be proud of. We are managing these cities so well that you cannot field a rival against them, and we will continue to manage them well. We are managing not only Istanbul and Ankara, but all the metropolitan cities we hold, well.

We measure this with satisfaction surveys. Those who are in the hearts of the people are also in our hearts. In the coming week and the weeks that follow, gradually—look, nothing is moving elsewhere—the Republican People's Party is announcing 150 candidates every party assembly meeting, every five or seven days. We will continue to announce our candidates. We are managing well, and we will continue to manage well. After March 31, we brought spring to all of Turkey five years ago; from now on, we will bring summer."

Regarding the question, "Will the Aydın and İzmir candidates be announced before the new year?" Özel said, "They could be announced just before, or just after. But in the end, Aydın will be announced anyway.

If we had announced Aydın before our municipalities in similar categories, we kept Aydın waiting with the knowledge and consent of our mayor so that there would be no anxiety in those municipalities about 'whether it will not be announced.' There is no other reason."

"OPPOSITION IS CONDUCTED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT"

A journalist asked, "It was talked about a lot last week; following the declaration of war, both you and IYI Party leader Meral Akşener are in Nevşehir today. In the shadow of these assessments, we are actually expecting a statement from you as well. You have emphasized a grassroots alliance every time.

More moderate messages were given, but can we get a final assessment?" to which Özel replied, "To those who are constantly expecting tension in politics here and who want the 'Republican People's Party to fight with the opposition,' I will say this: in our understanding, opposition is conducted against the government.

We do not oppose the opposition. We do not argue with opposition parties. From here, from the capital of peace, I say this to all the opposition, to all the parties in the opposition, to the IYI Party, and to the good people who are members of the IYI Party: we are declaring peace to everyone in Turkey from Hacı Bektaş."

News Source: AA