Özgür Özel: I do not want this meeting to be associated with the decisions made by the Constitutional Court

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel visited Constitutional Court President Kadir Özkaya at his office.

Özel answered questions from journalists after his meeting with Constitutional Court (AYM) President Kadir Özkaya.

Emphasizing the importance of the AYM's decisions that canceled a series of powers held by AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, Özel stated that he would not want this meeting to be associated with these decisions.

Here are the highlights from Özel's statements:

For two days, the AYM has been making very important decisions. They are very delayed but very important decisions. I do not want this meeting to be associated with these decisions because, just as it is our responsibility to give measured reactions to decisions we do not like, coming here after decisions we think should have been made and having it perceived as a celebration, a congratulation, or a thank you would cast a shadow over the impartiality of the AYM.

"THE CONSTITUTION IS A SOCIAL CONSENSUS"

Both institutionally and personally, as the party chairman, I am very protective of the AYM. We value the AYM tremendously. That is one side of the matter. The AYM is a high court that was first discussed in the CHP's initial declaration of goals in Turkish political history, then entered the 1961 Constitution, and transformed into today's achievement. Therefore, whoever devalues the AYM—whether it be its members, its decisions, politicians, or sometimes even legal experts—no one will benefit from this in the medium to long term. Because the AYM is the guarantee of the Constitution. The Constitution is a social consensus. It is the physical manifestation of the fact that the people living within these borders have a consensus. If there is no consensus reached, let no one talk about how much they love their state or their nation.

There may be articles in the Constitution that everyone is uncomfortable with because the Constitution is not a text that everyone fully accepts, but the point that must be paid attention to is that everyone is obliged to comply with the current Constitution. If I don't like one article and won't comply, you don't comply with another, and someone else does the same, when 100 people come together, the state order disappears. Neither the President, nor political party leaders, nor other high courts, nor first-instance court judges have the right to object to a part of the Constitution they do not like. Especially ignoring or disregarding the AYM, which oversees the obligation to comply with the Constitution, is completely rebelling against the constitutional order. We stand against whoever does this because this is an uprising, a coup.

MEETING WITH ERDOĞAN

It has been confirmed that our meeting date with Erdoğan will be within next week. We will have the opportunity to share the day and time tomorrow. This is an important meeting; I advocate for everyone to meet with everyone in politics. It is a period we call normalization. Yesterday, Mr. Bahçeli also made assessments in his speech regarding the fact that we have added this approach to politics, but also regarding where he stands. Mr. Erdoğan calls it a softening process. We look at it this way because we believe this is what is normal.

"I CALLED MERAL AKŞENER"

I called Meral Akşener during the holiday. These are human things. Politicians who lose their human feelings have nothing to contribute to the country. I hope a contact is taking place that both sides leave satisfied with. We are also following it carefully.

News Source: 12punto