Election call at CHP–İYİ Party summit: 'We would vote yes for any kind of election'

The Republican People's Party's (CHP) political party contacts continue. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu. Following the meeting, the two leaders held a joint press conference.

In his statement, Özel noted that his party is under intense pressure and made the following remarks:

"Our party is under multiple attacks. Even today, we are experiencing many attacks. In response, we are saying something to Erdoğan as the CHP. We say; you brought a Constitution, we opposed this constitutional amendment back then.

You have imprisoned our mayors, whom the nation elected with 50-60 percent of the vote, using false witnesses, secret witnesses, and slander. We said, 'Come on, let's go to an early election as soon as possible, we want an early election.' They are running away from this. We continue to voice this demand for an early election.

Besides this, we have challenged them in every area where they attack us locally. We said, let's put the ballot box in Aydın, let the people of Aydın decide. Let's ask the people what they think in Adana, Antalya, Istanbul, or in Bayrampaşa and Gaziosmanpaşa, where they took our municipalities from us."

“WE ARE NOT FIELDING CANDIDATES” STANCE

Pointing to Bursa as the latest example, Özel made the following assessment:

"The latest example is Bursa. Relying on municipal council majorities, they carried out detentions and arrests regarding a 12-year-old foundation transaction from 8 years ago, and they are trying to take over with the municipal council majority. We are not even fielding candidates; we are leaving them alone with their disgrace and their greed."

REITERATED CALL FOR EARLY ELECTION

Touching upon election debates, Özel stated the following:

"Turkey needs a ballot box. There is a need to make the nation's voice heard by those who ignore the nation's word. If it falls on me, let's have all municipal council members resign together, and let's face the nation once again with the AK Party in these places, he says. If they say early general election, we are already ready today, we were ready yesterday. If they say 'we are moving the early general election forward, you put the local elections forward,' I am ready for an early local election in all municipalities. I am ready for an early general election and an early local election to be held together. I challenge them."

BY-ELECTION DEBATE

Özel also said the following regarding the issue of by-elections:

"The Constitution says that no by-elections can be held during the first 30 months, but 5 percent of the parliament, 30 deputies, 'Özgür Özel will have 22 deputies resign.' This is a path that can be taken for the first 30 months. 30 months have passed. Article 78 of the Constitution is as clear as day; 'After 30 months have passed, by-elections are held for vacant parliamentary seats.' It does not say they can be held."

DERVİŞOĞLU’S EMPHASIS ON ELECTIONS

İYİ Party leader Dervişoğlu stated that Turkey needs an early election and spoke as follows:

"From the very beginning, I have been pointing out that Turkey is not being governed, and I share my conviction with the public that Turkey needs an early general election. If the demand for an early election comes to the agenda, the demand for a by-election automatically disappears."

When asked, "What would your vote be if there is a vote for a by-election?" Dervişoğlu replied, "We would vote yes for any kind of election."