Özgür Özel shares AKP and CHP polls: Explains the gap between Ekrem İmamoğlu and Murat Kurum

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel made statements regarding the current agenda during a live broadcast on Habertürk.

Evaluating the remarks made by his party's Afyonkarahisar candidate Burcu Köksal and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding Köksal, Özel also shared the results of CHP and AKP's Istanbul polls.

Stating that "If I had noticed it during the speech, I would have corrected it," regarding Köksal, Özel evaluated İmamoğlu's reaction to Köksal by saying, "If I were to say something in Ekrem Bey's style, ties with Burcu Hanım would be broken. After all, things are going well in Afyon. We are winning the election in a critical place in every respect. There was a road accident here. I consent to Ekrem Bey's statement being focused on the Istanbul election."

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

"Just nine months ago, you became a member of parliament with opposition votes in Eskişehir. Then you switch to the AKP and use inappropriate expressions regarding a name like Yılmaz Büyükerşen.

(Regarding the statements of Afyon candidate Burcu Köksal) Burcu Hanım went out to give a speech. I did not notice what was being said during the speech. Then we made our own speech. Burcu Hanım became the candidate with full consensus in her province. In fact, Burcu's characteristic is this: She talks about Afyon every chance she gets in Parliament. Her style is harsh, and it is destructive from the government's perspective.

If I had noticed it during the speech, I would have corrected it. I called her and said, 'I will correct this in Uşak.' She said, 'Please correct it, Chairman.'

Today, in the statement she made, Burcu Köksal said, 'I will not exclude anyone based on their race or opinions.'

There may be situations where political party leaders need to call each other."

İMAMOĞLU'S REACTION TO BURCU KÖKSAL

What Tanju Bey says is this: In public service, there is no such thing as 'letting into the municipality.' He said, 'I won't walk on the sidewalk.' If Burcu Hanım had not made a correction and had insisted, our thoughts could not have been different from Mr. İmamoğlu's expressions. She cannot engage in politics in our party. Someone who voted for DEM in the general elections in Istanbul receives an incredible number of votes because İmamoğlu does not discriminate and does not subject anyone to any discrimination in terms of benefiting from municipal services. There is something we all experience. The time that passes in communication strengthens the claim. Some say 'racism, fascism.' When the statement is delayed, the claim strengthens. The next day, Ekrem Bey went to the field and wanted to show his clear stance. After Burcu Köksal's statements, the judgment sentences of both statements have fallen. We are looking ahead. We talk to Ekrem Bey several times a day about Istanbul and Istanbul programs. A poll comes in, Ekrem Bey calls. We are in daily and instant contact. It is the same with Mansur Bey. These expressions could cause trouble for the Istanbul elections, and the issue is not the corporate identity of DEM, but the Kurdish voters who voted for the DEM Party; even if they don't vote, they vote for the AK Party, and when the AK Party does evil to the DEM Party, they also react. Mayor Ekrem said, 'This created a resentment.' If I were to say something in Ekrem Bey's style, ties with Burcu Hanım would be broken. After all, things are going well in Afyon. We are winning the election in a critical place in every respect. There was a road accident here. I consent to Ekrem Bey's statement being focused on the Istanbul election. I spoke with both Ekrem Bey and Burcu Hanım. This matter is a closed issue for the CHP."

AKP AND CHP POLLS

The gap was larger against a non-existent candidate. Murat Kurum was gaining momentum with a fast campaign. As Kurum stopped being himself. They are trying to impose an identity on him. He is fighting, he is insulting. I have experienced many times that this does not suit Mr. Kurum. The Murat Kurum I know and the Murat Kurum I am watching are not the same. My friends said that there is currently a 4.5-point gap in favor of Ekrem Bey. I attribute Kurum's decline in every poll to his speech sounding like a dubbing. The perception that Erdoğan will come and take control of the situation is harmful.

"THERE IS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MERAL AKŞENER AND ME"

She gave it to the AK Party. Then she switched to the AK Party. There is something İsmail Ok and the AK Party did here. In those days, when Ahmet Akın acted like this, Ms. Meral Akşener had said to Ahmet Akın, 'I don't owe anyone anything, but I will pay my debt to you.' I reminded her of this jokingly a few times. The Chairwoman was also angry with me. She is right, she is our elder sister. We have a different relationship, a relationship that has spanned years. It is still like that. I do not oppose the government. I have said at least 200 times that opposing the opposition is grist for the government's mill. Someone who opposes the opposition is betraying the salary the state pays them. Because the state pays you a salary so that you can oppose. If making harsh criticisms of the opposition is a strategy, then so be it. But if they are doing it just to be harsh, then so be it three times over. Winning is not everything. I think that in Balıkesir, good people will restore the balance of the scales of justice that has been broken for Ahmet Akın. After this time, if I say 'You in Ordu, me in Balıkesir,' it won't work. The taste of that business will be spoiled after this time. It would be shameful from now on.

HOW IS THE RACE GOING IN ISTANBUL?

Mr. Murat has a situation like this. With the psychology of being behind, he is trying to invent something, a polemic. The fact that an invitation was given is a good thing for them, not sending it is a shame. Creating a polemic out of nothing lowers his momentum. As far as I can see, Ekrem Bey is in legitimate defense. Mr. Kurum is starting a polemic. We used to make promises, now we are talking about what we have done.

"IF WE CANNOT WIN IN 2028, I WILL CONVENE AN EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS"

I will make the CHP the government in 2028. If I cannot achieve this, I will not stay in the chairmanship seat for a minute. I will immediately convene an extraordinary congress, and I will not be a candidate.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING LÜTFÜ SAVAŞ'S CANDIDACY PROCESS

We looked for an alternative who could win more strongly than Lütfü Savaş. We did not hide this from Mayor Lütfü. I have said it many times regarding Lütfü Savaş. In all the polls I had conducted in Hatay, whoever we asked about Lütfü Savaş's name. In the satisfaction survey, absolute dissatisfaction did not emerge, nor did it emerge that he must be changed. It needed to be questioned. When asked as a binary, he comes out a little ahead. When other parties got involved, he was falling a little behind. I sent a team to the field three times. In all interviews, if we could find someone with stronger support than Lütfü Savaş, we would definitely win the election. We looked for an alternative, and we did not hide this from Mayor Lütfü. Every time, he said to me, 'Chairman, I am winning this election.' Until the last day, when we went there, 99 percent of the reaction was against the government. The Minister of Health came out, one of the ministers who worked the most during the earthquake process. They sent the minister. He went out to give a speech. I wish Süleyman Soylu had gone out there, whatever is done is deserved. When the Minister of Health went out, there was a huge roar, booing, etc. At one point, the Minister of Health said to me, 'We can go out together.' I said, 'No, that wouldn't be right.' I wondered if I should have gone next to him. There was a 99 percent protest. I am not saying anything to anyone who protested in Hatay."

News Source: 12punto