CHP announces decision regarding Kılıçdaroğlu's 'insulting the President' trial: Özgür Özel will be abroad

CHP Spokesperson Deniz Yücel stated that Chairman Özgür Özel will not be able to attend the hearing on October 17, where former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will appear before the judge on charges of 'insulting the President,' because he will be abroad, adding, "However, our party will attend Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu's hearing at the highest level."

Yücel spoke at a press conference regarding the meeting. Yücel reported that comprehensive presentations on public opinion polls, foreign policy, security, and the economy were made at the parliamentary group camp held over the weekend, and that presentations and evaluations regarding parliamentary work were also made by the group deputy chairmen. Yücel said, "This winter, the party program that the Republican People's Party will take as a basis while governing this country will be discussed both in Parliament and in the field.

Our party program is being created with an understanding that is worked on in detail, where the views and suggestions of every segment of society are blended with each other, and which takes reason and science as a guide.

This process, in which democracy in our country has received heavy wounds, social injustices have increased, the burning foreign policy agenda makes our people more anxious every day, and our citizens no longer feel safe in this country due to the government's censorship, pressure, and threats, has increased the importance of the party program that the Republican People's Party has created with broad-based participation one more time," he said.

"HE DID NOT EVEN TAKE HUMAN DIGNITY WITH HIM"

Regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to the US, Yücel said, "The AKP government has once again shown how it has destroyed our country's reputation in foreign policy. The AKP government, which has eliminated the legal order in domestic politics and lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the public, has once again shown its effort to extend the life of its government and survive by making concession after concession and leaning on Trump in return. On the journey to the United States, which we set out on with our suitcases packed with concessions, Turkey has encountered treatment that we have never encountered even at the negotiating tables of wars where we suffered great casualties in the history of the Republic, and has seen a disrespect greater than we have ever seen. Yet, what befitted Turkey was not commercial concessions or bargaining, but to display a strong and independent foreign policy containing consistency. Yet, what befitted Turkey was to inspire great respect at the United Nations with an image of a Turkey that can defend our national interest and human dignity at the same time. However, while Erdoğan was sitting at the same table as Trump, he did not even take human dignity with him. Unfortunately, he could not make the heroic speech he gave in a small room at the United Nations in front of Trump," he said.

"CONCESSIONS WERE MADE, A NUCLEAR AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED"

Emphasizing that Turkey is the first NATO country to be subjected to sanctions within the scope of CAATSA, Yücel said, "We were removed from the F-35 program due to the CAATSA sanctions applied because of the S-400 missile defense system purchased from Russia in 2019, and our F-35 aircraft were seized. While 6 of our F-35 aircraft are sitting in a US hangar, Erdoğan cannot go beyond saying, 'I reminded Trump of the money we paid.' You reminded him, but what happened, Mr. Erdoğan? At the end of the day, commercial concessions were made, a nuclear agreement was signed. It was even alleged that rare elements found in our country were handed over to America. There is still no word on the F-35s. So what do we have? 3-5 photo frames that Erdoğan believes will give him so-called legitimacy. Legitimacy is not gained by being in the same photo frame as Trump. Legitimacy is gained by coming to power through a fair election and with the will that comes out of the ballot box. Legitimacy is given by the nation, not by Trump," he said.

When asked whether there would be any attendance by the CHP at the trial on October 17 where Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is being tried for 'insulting the President,' Yücel said, "You remember that many of our executives and deputies, along with our Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel, attended the first hearing of the case in which our former chairman Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was tried. On the 17th, our Chairman will not be able to attend because he will be abroad on that date, attending the Party of European Socialists Congress. However, our party will attend Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu's hearing at the highest level. We will follow the case until it is concluded," he said. Yücel also stated that the date of the 39th Grand Congress has not yet been finalized, and that the necessary decision will be taken once the provincial congresses are completed.