Striking claim from Ahmet Özer about Bahçeli regarding operations against CHP! 'He is aware that it is causing harm...'

CHP's Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was arrested on charges of being a "PKK/KCK member" and replaced by a trustee, has been granted release in the City Consensus investigation. However, he remains in prison due to the arrest warrant issued in the investigation launched regarding corruption allegations against him.

While new developments continue to emerge every day in the new peace process, which MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli is the architect of and which the government calls a "Terror-Free Turkey," the imprisoned Özer made statements regarding both the cases he is being tried in and the process itself.

Speaking to Cansu Çamlıbel from T24, Özer explained that the operation against him had three goals:

“The operation against me had three important goals. The first goal was to destroy the high synergy I created in Esenyurt in a short time, both in terms of service and politics, and to target the Esenyurt Municipality. This was the only way they could appoint a trustee to the Esenyurt Municipality, which they could not win through elections and which they care about very much. As a Kurdish politician who embraces his identity, I was made their target. Likewise, a high synergy formed between me and the public in a short time. The public saw how hard I worked and my love for service and determination, and they were afraid of never being able to take Esenyurt again.

Secondly, the bond I established with Kurdish voters in Esenyurt specifically and their voting for the CHP disturbed the government. On one hand, they wanted to break this bond, and on the other, they attempted to stir up the internal affairs of the CHP by showing me as being affiliated and connected with the organization. That was their intention. The third was in the nature of a response to Bahçeli's move on October 22, 2024.”

Arguing that MHP leader Bahçeli is more eager in the peace process than AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özer said, “The AKP and Mr. Erdoğan took things slowly. They applied a 'wait and see' policy, so to speak. Furthermore, Bahçeli is aware that the political operations carried out against the CHP and its municipalities are harming the peace process, and he is objecting to this in his own way, to an extent that will not break the alliance.”

Following these words, when asked, “How do you understand that Bahçeli is not on the same page as Erdoğan regarding the operations against the CHP?”, Özer gave the following response:

“The correct statements he and his legal advisors make from time to time, such as 'trial without arrest is essential, indictments should be written as soon as possible, a fair trial should be held, and the cases could be broadcast on TRT as the CHP wishes,' are the most obvious indicators of this. This fact should not be ignored; social peace cannot be achieved by excluding the main opposition. Can the peace process succeed while this political siege against the CHP via the judiciary continues? Can the internal front be strengthened by making Turkey's most deep-rooted and largest party an enemy? The way these questions are answered has the quality of determining the upcoming process.”

Emphasizing that the AKP is making vote calculations and acting slowly in the new peace process, Özer stated, “The Kurdish issue should be solved not just by three parties, but with the participation of all parties, without wasting the opportunity offered by such an environment—although the major partner of the government does not seem very eager on these issues—the AKP is acting slowly because it is making vote calculations. The Kurdish issue cannot be solved by making vote calculations. It was not solved in the past for this reason, and it cannot be solved now with this calculation. Solving this issue is much more important than someone becoming a minister or President.”

After a group of PKK terrorists laid down their arms in a symbolic 'ceremony,' AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that they would carry out the process with the AKP, MHP, and DEM Party. Özer stated that he does not see an AKP, MHP, and DEM Party alliance as possible.

Regarding the City Consensus investigation, Özer made the following assessment: "As for the 'City Consensus' issue, this was an attempt to look for trouble where there is none, so to speak, from the very beginning. The AKP was greatly disturbed by the CHP's power union with Kurdish voters in the election. Because this power union brought gains to the CHP and DEM while causing losses for the AKP. Therefore, it tried to criminalize the 'City Consensus' to break and eliminate this political power union. So much so that we were accused in the indictments of 'giving representation rights to Kurds in the West.' However, when the process revealed the absurdity of this situation, it was abandoned."

Stating that Kurdish voters will not vote for the government, Özer continued as follows:

“I don't think Kurdish voters will forget what has been done to them over all these years and run to vote for the government. For now, there is a cooperation conjuncturally, but there are major separations and differences in terms of worldview and the government's implementation practices. Moreover, if the solution to the Kurdish issue is attempted by considering political interests, it cannot be successful. Because this issue is not just the problem of one or two parties, but of the whole country; therefore, the solution and peace process should not be wasted once again just for the sake of votes. For lasting peace, it is important to ensure the participation of both all political parties and the public. When the AKP lost the election in June 2015, it returned to security-oriented policies. I hope such a situation does not arise this time.”

Özer evaluated the messages of CHP leader Özgür Özel and the imprisoned IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding the new peace process as follows:

“I find Mr. Özgür Özel's attitude on this issue extremely brave, correct, and consistent.

Despite all the operations carried out against CHP municipalities, he said, 'We support the laying down of arms and the peace process,' and even went a step further, adding, 'There is a Kurdish issue in Turkey, it has not been solved yet, we will solve this issue.' I think so too. For years, it was said in this country that 'there are no Kurds,' and now it is said, 'there are Kurds, but there is no Kurdish issue.' Are we going to spend another half-century with this?

For years, weapons were made the justification for authoritarianism in politics and unequal development in the economy. Now, since weapons are disappearing, it is the perfect time to eliminate both democratization and economic imbalances between regions. Those who solve the problems will not only leave a strong, respected, and democratic Turkey to the future, but they will also be written in history in golden letters. Therefore, the CHP, Mr. Özgür Özel, and Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu are not only defending the peace process but also saying that the Kurdish issue must be solved. It is extremely valuable that both of them say that the solution to the Kurdish issue will happen under our government."