'Purge' operation backfires: Kılıçdaroğlu camp takes a step back

Two vehicles left in front of the CHP Headquarters—which transitioned to the Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu administration following an eviction carried out with police intervention—bearing signs that read "For sale: haram vehicle," have brought the tension within the party to a new level. As claims emerged that the vehicles were allocated to the party during the Özgür Özel era, a series of statements came from the CHP administration.

In a post shared by the social media account "Özgür Özel İletişim," it was stated that the vehicles in question were purchased with the CHP's own budget and that all invoices are available.

"ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS USED BY KILIÇDAROĞLU"

The post stated that one of the vehicles was purchased in 2022 during the Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu era and was used directly by Kılıçdaroğlu as an official car.

The statement included the following remarks:

"After the disgusting vehicle display at our Headquarters, it has become necessary to say a few words. Both vehicles were purchased with the party's money, and their invoices exist. One of the vehicles was purchased and used by Kılıçdaroğlu in 2022. Those who put that vehicle there are ignorant enough not to know this."

"KILIÇDAROĞLU USED Aziz İhsan AKTAŞ'S ARMORED VEHICLE FOR 1.5 YEARS"

The same statement also alleged that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu used an armored vehicle belonging to businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş for a long period following the attack in Çubuk.

The post stated, 'After Kılıçdaroğlu was attacked in Çubuk, Erdoğan Toprak received an armored vehicle from Aziz İhsan Aktaş and made it available for Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu's use. Kılıçdaroğlu used Aziz İhsan Aktaş's armored vehicle for 1.5 years.'

SHARP REACTION FROM ÖZGÜR KARABAT

CHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP Özgür Karabat also made a detailed statement regarding the issue. Karabat argued that the scenes at the CHP Headquarters were 'vulgar'.

Karabat used the following expressions in his statement:

'The attitude displayed today by the administration appointed to our party by the court has caused damage at least as severe as bringing the police into our Headquarters. Unfortunately, a vulgarity adorned with lies was exhibited on a holiday.'

Stating that both vehicles were purchased with CHP's own resources, Karabat said that one of the vehicles was used by Kılıçdaroğlu as an official car. He stated that the other vehicle was purchased this year with the party budget.

'NO DIRECT CONNECTION TO AKTAŞ AND YALIM'

Karabat also rejected the allegations that the vehicles were connected to Aziz İhsan Aktaş or Özkan Yalım.

In his statement, Karabat said, "None of those vehicles have any connection to Özkan Yalım or Aziz İhsan Aktaş," and noted that Kılıçdaroğlu had used Aziz İhsan Aktaş's armored vehicle for a period due to security concerns.

Karabat also stated that the vehicle in question was taken back to Istanbul by Erdoğan Toprak following the party congress in November 2023.

NEW STATEMENT FROM THE KILIÇDAROĞLU CAMP: "IT WAS SYMBOLIC"

Following the escalation of the debate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's press advisor Atakan Sönmez also issued a new statement.

In his assessment to Sözcü, Sönmez stated that the vehicles had no direct connection to Aziz İhsan Aktaş or Özkan Yalım.

Stating that the vehicles were brought in front of the CHP Headquarters for "symbolic" purposes, Sönmez used the following expressions:

"Due to the allegations and investigations regarding both names, two vehicles randomly selected from the CHP inventory were symbolically displayed in front of the CHP Headquarters."

Sönmez further stated that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his team would conduct the necessary review regarding the vehicles, adding, "If there is no suspicion, this is CHP's own property and it stays in its parking lot. We did the display here to highlight the risk." 

News Source: 12punto