CHP Chairman Özel gives striking examples of tax injustice: 'Number one in Europe'

The latest stop of the 'Defending the National Will' rallies, which were ignited by the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was the Bağcılar district of Istanbul.

It was observed that there was intense interest from citizens in the rally, which has been held for the 85th time since March 2025.

FLASH STATEMENTS FROM ÖZGÜR ÖZEL IN BAĞCILAR

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel addressed the citizens who gathered in Bağcılar Square.

Özel stated that they have never been able to win Bağcılar as the CHP since 1992, but that they have never held a grudge against the citizens.

Saying, "I make a promise to Bağcılar," Özel stated, "We will be in power in Turkey, we will be in power in Bağcılar!"

Drawing attention to the high participation in the rally, the CHP Chairman said the following:

"When I look at this square, I see a map of Turkey. When I look at this square, I see the brotherhood of Anatolia, the rebellious waves of the Black Sea, the warmth of the Southeast, and the joy of the Balkans. When I look at this square, I see tens of thousands who have taken off their pajamas, thrown away the remote control, and flocked to the squares."

HE LISTED IMM'S INVESTMENTS ONE BY ONE

Stating that İmamoğlu has not spared his support for Bağcılar since the moment he took office, CHP Leader Özel listed what has been done as follows:

"The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality provides social support to exactly 32,600 households in this city and this district. It has provided the Istanbul Card to 25,500 families. 4,800 households receive regular Halk Ekmek (People's Bread) support. In this district, 3,400,000 liters of free milk have been distributed to 23,500 children; free milk has been distributed from the first day until this morning. 13,400 mothers have an 'Anne Kart' (Mother Card) in their bags. Until the child turns 4, they provide all their transportation for free with the Mother Card. Education support is provided to 2,810 households so that 'girls can study'."

"537 of our children have gained access to education in our 5 nurseries. İSKİ has made an infrastructure investment of 7.4 billion liras in this district. 130 kilometers of drinking water and 80 kilometers of wastewater lines were built. A City Restaurant, Employment Office, and Women's Support Center were opened. All of Bağcılar's transportation connections with metro lines have been completed. Mayor Ekrem is in Silivri, but his mind and heart are in the IMM, in Istanbul, and in Bağcılar."

"EVERYONE KNOWS ERDOĞAN CANNOT GO OUT ON THE STREET"

Saying, "Everyone in Turkey knows that Mr. Tayyip used to come to Bağcılar in the past, turned his face here, and received support from here, but now he does not go out to the squares or streets, cannot ask how people are doing, cannot visit the markets, cannot go to the tradesmen, and cannot look the nation in the face," Özel addressed AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with these words:

"Now I am addressing him from here, from Bağcılar. Neither the retirees, nor the workers, nor the tradesmen, nor the youth, nor the elderly of Bağcılar are satisfied with this course of events under the Justice and Development Party government, which gave it the most support. On one side are those who take Bağcılar's votes and go off to enjoy themselves somewhere; on the other side, there is a huge square living below the poverty line, which has reached 98 thousand liras today."

"GANGS HAVE SURROUNDED BAĞCILAR"

Stating that the streets of Bağcılar are full of drug gangs, Özgür Özel said, "One of the biggest problems in Bağcılar is drugs. Unfortunately, gangs have surrounded this district. Does the Justice and Development Party have a solution for this? No."

Saying, "Because they are busy staging a coup against their rivals and setting up conspiracies to get rid of Mayor Ekrem, who serves Istanbul and Bağcılar. Gangs use children as both hitmen and drug dealers," the CHP Chairman continued his words as follows:

"The age of drug use has dropped from 19 to 16. Drug use at age 12 has even entered the records. Treatment applications have doubled, and drug-related deaths have doubled. But the AK Party's white Toros, white Toros gang is chasing after tabloid news. They conduct drug operations with two pop singers and betting operations with two football players without touching the black money barons, without following the trail of black money, and without turning in that direction if the trail of black money passes through the government, they are conducting perception operations in their own way."

HE ANNOUNCED CHP'S ELECTION PROMISES

Saying, "As the Republican People's Party, we said that we would declare a national mobilization. We will track down the black money and collapse on the heads of the barons and gangs," Özel explained how they would fight against drugs and black money as follows:

"For an effective fight, we will make MASAK both autonomous and free, and we will equip it with powers. We will establish real supervision in ports, logistics, and the financial system. We will provide treatment and rehabilitation along with social policies. No one will haunt this country's children anymore. A child born innocent from their mother will not turn into a crime machine after 14 years."

"The murder they commit, the heart they burn will not make mothers cry in this country. There will be no Ahmet Bingöllüs, there will be no Atlases. Ahmets and Atlases will grow up safely next to their mothers and fathers. All of these will be held to account. We promise from Bağcılar that the roots of the gangs will be eradicated, the roots of the gangs will be eradicated!"

"WE WILL DESTROY THE AK PARTY'S DARK ORDER"

Saying, "The AK Party has an order that prevails in Turkey today. The order is this: 65 liras, 64 liras of every 100 liras of tax comes from indirect taxes. This is 30% in the world, 65% in Turkey. That is, the factory owner and the guard at the door pay the same tax. The same tax on electricity, water, telephone, food, clothing, shoes, and coats," the CHP Chairman continued:

"Whether you are a multi-billionaire or a minimum wage earner, it is the same tax. Then there is the 24% income tax deducted from salaries. Then 11% corporate tax. They make this square pay 88% of the tax in Turkey, and they take only 11% from those who should actually pay taxes. 11% from the rich, those who have factories, those who have huge bank accounts, those who have yachts and mansions, those who have private jets. 88% from this square, exactly 8 times more."

"Then when it comes to incentives, give them to them, give them tax amnesties, if they get fined, erase them, erase their debts, and then keep burdening this square. Deem 20 thousand liras worthy for the retiree in this square, and tell the minimum wage earner to raise a child, educate a child, and make a living with 28 thousand liras. This is the name of this order... The name of this order is the AK Party's... It is the AK Party's dark order."

"And from here, from here today, I am coming from Silivri with the candidate, with family solidarity, with our Mayor Ekrem's valuable wife Dilek Hanım and all the mothers, wives, and children of the prisoners, and I promise you, I swear that we will destroy the AK Party's dark order. We will destroy the AK Party's dark order!"

"TURKEY IS NUMBER ONE IN EUROPE IN INCOME INEQUALITY"

Saying, "In the past, this country would have bad days or good days, one way or another. It would face difficulties, and there would be times when it would smile. There were times when we all rejoiced together, and times when we all grieved together. Sometimes we would come in last in Eurovision, sometimes we would come in first. Sometimes we would be eliminated in football, sometimes we would be third in the world. Sometimes we would suffer, sometimes we would all reach prosperity together," Özel stated, "But now it is number one in Europe in poverty, number one in Europe in high inflation, number one in Europe in high interest rates, number one in Europe in unemployment, and number one in Europe in income tax injustice."

Saying, "Today I am asking from here. Look, from here in Bağcılar, ask the AK Party Bağcılar organization tomorrow: Can Tayyip Erdoğan say that we are not number one in Europe in poverty, high inflation, high interest rates, unemployment, and tax injustice? The state they have brought the country to; yes, you are poor, you are unemployed, you are insecure, but you must endure, you must be grateful, you must put up with it," Özel continued his words as follows:

"My brother, this country, this country is an equal country founded by Atatürk. This country has respect for every religion, 99% of it is Muslim. Is there a clergy class in Islam? Is there a privileged citizenship status in this country? Why am I enduring while you are enjoying yourself? You are enjoying yourself!"

"We will not endure, we will never endure. We will object, we will rebel. We will overthrow the AK Party's dark order. We will overthrow it! Are you ready to destroy the AK Party's dark order? Are you ready to destroy the AK Party's dark order? Are you ready to get your rights? We can no longer bear being crushed, are you ready to get rid of the oppressors? This determination, this struggle, this power will win. Because the moral superiority is with us, the psychological superiority is with us, the energy of the majority is with us. Let them be afraid, we will win. We will win!"

"WE WILL TAKE THE RETIREE PENSION TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT"

Saying, "We rebelled when we heard the retiree pension was 19. We started a sit-in in Parliament, a retiree resistance. They made it 1,000 liras, 20 thousand liras, we did not accept it. We resisted there for 15 days until the end. Now we will resist in 81 provinces," Özel said that they would take the lowest retiree pension to the Constitutional Court.

"ANYONE WHO DOES NOT GIVE THE WORKER THEIR DUE WILL FIND ME AGAINST THEM"

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said, "Bağcılar Migros warehouse workers want a raise, they want security, but some people look down on those workers, talk down to them, and try to crush them," and spoke as follows:

"He is up there, he sees the Migros worker like an ant. I am addressing Migros from here: The ant has a brother, and that is the Republican People's Party, the Turkey Alliance, the Bağcılar Alliance. Anyone who does not give the worker their due will find me against them."

Saying, "We also had a center for motorcycle couriers here very recently, they came today and spoke in this square. We said it in the past few days, I am saying it once again: Yemeksepeti is persecuting couriers, exploiting their labor, imposing difficult conditions, and ignoring the struggle of the workers who are fighting," Özgür Özel continued his words:

"I am making my final warning to Yemeksepeti from here. We turned a new page at the beginning of this year and emptied all our boycott lists, but we said this: We are watching, who looks at these squares with a crooked eye, who looks at them correctly? Who supports the struggle, who hinders it? We are following it carefully."

"And the worker, the heart and soul of this square, is the value of their sweat, their retiree. We are a mass that is left-wing, social democratic, that protects labor, that protects its workers and retirees. We are not joking, this is my final warning; Yemeksepeti, either reach an agreement or you will find us against you. If they continue to persecute the couriers, are you ready to stand like lions behind the couriers, behind the motorcycle couriers?"

"I am not saying anything else. The voice in the square is the voice in the country. Right now, in 81 provinces in Turkey, those whose eyes are on this square and whose hearts are in this square have their ears on the motorcycle courier organization in resistance. Make the decision, do not take us on. Period."

"ERDOĞAN IS SELLING OUT GAZA"

Reacting to Turkey's participation in the Peace Council established in Gaza under the leadership of US President Donald Trump, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said, "This self-proclaimed person called Trump is establishing a peace council. He called it a peace council; his son-in-law is in it, his businessman crony is in it, his Middle East representative is in it, and Tony Blair, the 'Labor Party leader who shouldn't be, shouldn't be' who drenched Iraq in blood, is in it. And finally, with Erdoğan's approval, not in the peace council but in the executive board, TikToker Hakan is also in it."

Using the expressions, "Erdoğan, who supposedly has sensitivity for Palestine, is silent to Trump, is surrendering, is supporting the peace council, is giving personnel to it, and perhaps without shame is thinking of going to Trump's side himself, and is selling out Gaza," Özel continued his words as follows:

"As the Republican People's Party, we are exactly where Bülent Ecevit and Yaser Arafat stood. As those who fill this square, we are exactly where Deniz Gezmiş and his friends stood when they supported the Palestine Liberation Organization."

"We are friends of Palestine, we are not friends of Trump. We say this to Erdoğan, who cannot speak out against Trump, who calls Netanyahu a war hero: It is not enough to just go out into the squares and say 'The world is bigger than 5' for nothing, it is done by standing up to Trump and saying 'The world is bigger than you'. The world is bigger than you!"

"IF YOU WIN, I AM QUITTING POLITICS"

Stating that he would resign from his post as CHP Chairman after a possible election defeat, Özgür Özel challenged Erdoğan in Bağcılar.

Saying, "I am announcing it from here. At the end of March, I am ready to have all my municipal council members in Istanbul resign, and if you are going to do it, I am ready to renew all municipal elections in Istanbul," Özel spoke as follows:

"My candidate is clear, Ekrem İmamoğlu. Whichever one you trust; we defeated the Prime Minister you brought out, we defeated the Parliament Speaker you brought out, we defeated this incompetent, incompetent empty-promiser Murat Kurum, the mafia-like Murat. Whoever you trust, whoever you trust, my candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu. Whether it's TikToker Hakan, or the son-in-law, or the son, whoever you bring out against us, let Istanbul make the decision. If you win the election, we are quitting politics, but if Mayor Ekrem wins the election, we want you to get off our backs. Challenge accepted!"

"No, no, he says 'Erdoğan will call'. There is no such thing, he will hear it. I will not make a phone call, I will give a date. I am looking at the calendar; 31, 30, 29... Sunday, March 29. Come here to television. You were saying last year, Erdoğan, 'in the May 19 coup', you were saying 'a month later these people won't be able to show their faces in public'. Look, I am in Bağcılar, I am in the presence of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands."

"You were saying 'they won't be able to look each other in the face'. Look, I am looking at the faces of the most beautiful-faced people in the world. You were saying 'they won't be able to look each other in the eye'. Just as we look each other in the eye, I am looking into your eyes and saying; are you ready for a grand court to be established in Istanbul on Sunday, March 29, in the presence of all Istanbulites? Ekrem İmamoğlu is my candidate, you can find whoever you want to face him. If we win, an early election is coming, if you win, I am quitting politics. Challenge accepted! Are you ready? Coward, are you ready? Come face us. It is not done by slandering innocent people. Don't be afraid, if you have the courage, come face us on March 29. If you have so much courage, hold an early election, otherwise let the Istanbulite make the decision. Challenge accepted! Challenge accepted!"

İMAMOĞLU ADDRESSED TENS OF THOUSANDS FROM SILIVRI

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been in Marmara Prison in Silivri for over 300 days, addressed the citizens who gathered in Bağcılar Square with a letter he wrote.

The letter İmamoğlu wrote in his prison cell was shared with the citizens by CHP Istanbul Chairman Özgür Çelik.

In his letter, İmamoğlu stated that the nurseries opened by the IMM were being tried to be blocked, and included the expression, "Be ashamed of your own children."

"BE ASHAMED OF YOUR OWN CHILDREN"

Saying, "We have completed our Bağcılar-Kirazevler project within the scope of Istanbul is Renewing. We have never forgotten the children, the youth, and the retirees. For the first time in IMM history, we opened student dormitories. For the first time, we opened nurseries," İmamoğlu touched upon the nursery issue in the recent period as follows:

"We have put our 3 nurseries in Bağcılar into service. We are opening nurseries because our goal is for our children to be prepared for life at the best level, regardless of their family's income level. The Republic means equality of opportunity and means above all else. From the first day, they have been trying to prevent us from opening nurseries. I have only one word, shame on you! Be ashamed of your own children!"

İmamoğlu said the following in his letter read by Çelik:

“Beautiful people of Bağcılar, my dear fellow citizens… Dear ladies, esteemed gentlemen, my beautiful-faced children, brave youth… I missed you very much. I embrace each and every one of you with longing. I love you all very much. We have been separated from each other for 10 months. The intention of those who separated us was to build walls between us, to break the bond of affection between us. But they did not succeed. As they tried to separate us, we became closer to each other. This separation has riveted our unity, our solidarity, and our love. It has grown our struggle, our hope, and our courage. Bağcılar knows us for our diligence. Bağcılar knows very well that we work only to serve the citizens, without separating anyone, without partisanship.”

“WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BY THE SIDE OF THOSE IN NEED, THOSE IN DIFFICULTY”

“As the administration that brought a record level of metro to Istanbul, we have taken very important steps that will facilitate transportation in Bağcılar. We opened the Yıldız-Mahmutbey section of the Yıldız-Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey Metro Line. We opened the Ataköy-İkitelli Metro Line for service. We have accelerated the work on the Mahmutbey-Bahçeşehir-Esenyurt Metro Line, which will also pass through Bağcılar. We have started the work on the Kirazlı-Halkalı University Metro Line and we are continuing rapidly. We have completed our 'Bağcılar Kiraz Evler Transformation Project', which is one of the urban transformation projects we started within the scope of 'Istanbul is Renewing', and we have brought the houses together with their rightful owners. We brought employers and job seekers together with our Regional Employment Office, and we contributed to employment. We have never forgotten the children, the youth, the retirees, and the workers. We have always been by the side of those in need, those in difficulty.”

"I HAVE ONLY ONE WORD FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO ENGAGE IN DIRTY POLITICS OVER NURSERIES"

“For the first time in IMM history, we opened student dormitories. We put the Bağcılar Cüneyt Arkın Higher Education Male Student Dormitory at the service of our youth. For the first time in IMM history, we opened nurseries. We put our 3 nurseries in Bağcılar into service. Mothers who left their children to IMM nurseries with peace of mind were also able to find the opportunity to participate in working life. We are opening nurseries; because our goal is to ensure that all our children are prepared for life in the best way by receiving pre-school education, regardless of their family's income level. The Republic means equality and justice, first and foremost for children. The Republic means equality of opportunity and means in education, above all else. The mentality that has not opened a single nursery for 25 years cannot tolerate equality and justice even for children. That is why they have been trying to prevent us from building nurseries and to close down the ones that have been built since the first day. Today, I have only one word for those who try to engage in dirty politics over our children and IMM nurseries: Shame on you, shame on you; be ashamed of your own children.”

“WE WILL CARRY OUT A VERY DEEP-ROOTED JUSTICE REVOLUTION”

“My dear friends; whatever we did, we did it so that Istanbul would be a fair city, so that the nation's money would be spent directly for the nation, and so that the citizen would know that they are the owner of this city. We will do the same in the administration of the country. We will ensure justice first, and freedom first, for everyone, everywhere. No one will feel in need or in difficulty due to impossibilities. No one will be subjected to inequality, discrimination, or exclusion. The fair and merciful hand of the state will reach everyone with the same compassion. Institutions and rules will apply in the same way for everyone. The value of working and producing will be known, and everyone will rightfully receive the reward for their labor, initiative, and investment. Turkey can no longer continue on its path by saving the day and managing the situation. Together, we will carry out a very large, very deep-rooted justice revolution. We will reach prosperity and peace with the abundance of justice. Our unity and brotherhood will be strengthened with the spiritual power of justice. A handful of oppressors will lose, this hardworking, moral, big-hearted nation will win. Everything will be very beautiful. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Silivri Dungeon.”