Striking statement from Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ: The architect of the People's Alliance is Meral Akşener!

With 10 days remaining until the local elections, Zafer Party leader Ümit Özdağ, who answered questions from 12punto.com.tr, made notable statements regarding the upcoming local elections and the İYİ Party era.

Answering questions from journalist and author Tuncay Mollaveisoğlu on the 12puntotv YouTube channel, Özdağ gave the following response to the question, "In the 2019 local elections, the alliance system worked and many municipalities were won. The alliance system is no longer working. What do you see when you look at the metropolitan cities?"

"THE ARCHITECT OF THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE IS AKŞENER!"

"I objected to the alliance made with the CHP in 2019. Because the People's Alliance had dissolved. Bahçeli had made a statement, Erdoğan made a counter-statement, and as a result, the People's Alliance ended. I said to Meral Akşener; 'Meral Hanım, for this party to become a party, it must enter the elections alone. Let's emphasize two issues with a propaganda method extended until 2023. Refugees and the economy. In the 2023 elections, the İYİ Party will become the ruling party.'

'Bring this to the agenda,' she said. I brought it to the agenda at the Executive Board. It turned out she had already decided on the alliance with the CHP. They went, and I objected. They made an offer to the CHP. The CHP accepted the offer. Upon this, the People's Alliance was re-established. The architect of the People's Alliance is Meral Akşener."

"I SAID BEFOREHAND THAT SHE WOULD WALK OUT OF THE TABLE"

Responding to Mollaveisoğlu's question, "If the alliance had not been formed, would Erdoğan and Bahçeli not have come together?", Özdağ continued his words as follows:

"They would not have come together; everyone would have entered separately. 'That's how we won Ankara and Istanbul'—no.

We didn't win Ankara and Istanbul that way. Ankara and Istanbul would have been won anyway. So what should have happened? I said; if you really want to, this could be done... The CHP would not field a candidate in Ankara, or would field a candidate who would not campaign with a very low profile. We would do the same in Istanbul, but everyone separately. So what was Akşener's expression in the General Administrative Board (GİK) regarding the 2019 local elections? 'We came out as apprentices.'

But they acted together for 5 years. For 5 years, CHP municipalities worked for the İYİ Party. In fact, the Ankara Municipality is not a CHP municipality, but an İYİ Party municipality.

There was no need for this alliance then. Now, while the People's Alliance is going through its most solid period, Meral Akşener is breaking up the alliance. I also said she would break it up. I also said beforehand that she would walk out of the Table."

THE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL WAS 21 PERCENT

Özdağ explained his prediction regarding the process as follows:

"I predicted it, because I know her. We did something else as well. I said let's keep these criticisms aside and make an electoral cooperation with the İYİ Party. This has 21 percent support in society. They didn't even respond.

As the Zafer Party, we do not think it is important which one wins, the ruling party or the 'yellow' opposition. The reason is this; whichever party wins, the same companies continue to receive the tenders, only the intermediaries change."

News Source: 12punto