Özgür Özel speaks on CHP deputies standing for Erdoğan: We could not show disrespect to the office

The new legislative year has begun in the TBMM. During the general assembly, which started with the speech of AKP President Erdoğan, there was curiosity about what the CHP benches would do when Erdoğan arrived.

Some CHP deputies decided not to enter the General Assembly following the message that "everyone will stand up when the President arrives in the General Assembly."

CHP deputies Uğur Bayraktutan, Engin Altay, and Okan Konuralp protested AKP President Erdoğan, who entered the hall, by not standing up.

Other CHP members who entered the General Assembly hall stood up but did not applaud Erdoğan.

THEIR OWN DECISIONS

CHP leader Özgür Özel answered questions from journalists in the lobby after the General Assembly session closed.

Stating that there was no group decision regarding participation in the General Assembly, Özel said, "We conveyed our own stance to the group. It is the decision of our friends who did not attend. I do not see a problem."

"WE WELCOMED HIM WITHOUT SHOWING DISRESPECT TO THE OFFICE"

Stating that they welcomed Erdoğan in a way that 'respects his office,' Özel spoke as follows:

''We said that we would not leave any lack of respect for the office. We said that we would stand up to welcome the President when he arrived, in accordance with his oath, and that we would not show disrespect to the office. While there were no disturbing remarks in his speech, it was a partisan presidential speech. We did not feel the need to stand up when he was leaving. We welcomed the President, the head of state, the person tasked with opening the Parliament on October 1st according to the constitution, without showing disrespect to the office; there is nothing surprising about this.''

News Source: 12punto