Breaking News... Statement from CHP leader Özgür Özel in front of the YSK!

The Republican People's Party (CHP) delegation has filed an application with the YSK for the cancellation of the elections in Hatay.

Making a press statement after the application, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said, "If the March 31, 2019, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality elections were cancelled, then the Hatay elections should be cancelled not once, but eight times."

"WE CAN DOCUMENT THAT 300 PEOPLE WHO WERE ABROAD CAST VOTES"

Stating that "3,389 deceased voters cast votes in the elections, and the evidence for this is waiting in sacks to be placed on the scales of justice of the YSK," Özel added, "We have identified nearly 300 voters who were abroad and cast votes. We can document that 300 people who were abroad on that day cast votes."

We are in front of the Supreme Election Council https://t.co/SNPgPd902I

— Özgür Özel (@eczozgurozel) April 15, 2024

Özel's statements are as follows;

"We have filed the application on the grounds of complete illegality. I had said that I would file this application personally. We have made our application with the deputy chairmen who have been following all the objection processes in Hatay. This was likely the most comprehensive application for complete illegality ever made to the YSK. I believe that judges who listen to their conscience will also decide to repeat the elections. We have presented previous cancellation decisions along with their examples and attachments. If the March 31, 2019, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality elections were cancelled, then the Hatay elections should be cancelled not once, but eight times.

First of all, it is clear that police officers and municipal police were appointed as ballot box committee chairmen and civil servant members in violation of the law, and this is a reason for complete illegality.

3,389 deceased voters cast votes in the elections, and the evidence for this is waiting in sacks to be placed on the scales of justice of the YSK.

We have identified nearly 300 voters who were abroad and cast votes. We can document that 300 people who were abroad on that day cast votes.

While the margin has dropped from 3,900 to 2,500 just by correcting material errors, it is inevitable that all ballot boxes be subjected to the same audit. Not a single vote or ballot box was recounted in Hatay.

Five years ago, the voter stood by the victim in Istanbul. Come to your senses. These things return from the conscience of the voter. It is a crime to pressure an elected board for political reasons, but bowing to this pressure is not right either. I thank each of them in advance for the decision they will make with their conscience."

KEPEZ STATEMENT

Two of our lawyer deputies met with our organization in Antalya regarding Kepez. A great injustice and lack of conscience is being committed in Antalya. Whoever is at fault should pay the price; we are not going to protect anyone. However, if our mayor, who was at the head of the company in the past, had audits conducted, and if no audits were conducted three times after he left office, then the arrest of our mayor is political. If he were released, would he flee Kepez? The only thing preventing him from performing his new duty is political pressure.

Was any public official tried in the Ilic, Soma, or Corlu train accident? Did you grant permission for anyone to be tried, did you hold anyone accountable? If the mayor were guilty, I would not be bothered by this detention at all. Try him without detention, my friend. If there is a deficiency in the company that audits that firm, let us all hold them accountable together. It is a great injustice. I believe he will return to his duty. The opposite is incompatible with both conscience and decency.

I reject the provocation of asking whether I could ask the YSK President to his face. We politely gave him the necessary documents. We will see the decision. I will not enter into such a polemic with the YSK President. I do not say anything behind cameras that I cannot say to his face. If there is a fault, it is a fault everywhere. The level of the relationship we need to establish with you cannot be this either.

Two of our lawyer deputies met with our organization in Antalya regarding Kepez. A great injustice and lack of conscience is being committed in Antalya. Whoever is at fault should pay the price; we are not going to protect anyone. However, if our mayor, who was at the head of the company in the past, had audits conducted, and if no audits were conducted three times after he left office, then the arrest of our mayor is political. If he were released, would he flee Kepez? The only thing preventing him from performing his new duty is political pressure.

REMINDED OF CORLU

Was any public official tried in the Ilic, Soma, or Corlu train accident? Did you grant permission for anyone to be tried, did you hold anyone accountable? If the mayor were guilty, I would not be bothered by this detention at all. Try him without detention, my friend. If there is a deficiency in the company that audits that firm, let us all hold them accountable together. It is a great injustice. I believe he will return to his duty. The opposite is incompatible with both conscience and decency."