CHP Leader Özel: It is not up to İbrahim Kalın to perform the 'make-up prayer' for Erdoğan's Umayyad Mosque promise

Responding to journalists' questions on Habertürk, Özel gave the following answer to the question, "How do you evaluate the prayer performed by MIT Chief Kalın at the Umayyad Mosque?":

He performed his prayer, may God accept it! İbrahim Kalın is a civil servant, not a representative of the AKP, even though he does things that would undermine this... I had written him a letter asking him to provide us with an explanation as well.

I asked, 'Is the information to be provided valuable for the AKP but not for the CHP?' He said, 'Mr. Chairman, I received your letter, I agree with you, and I will visit you as well.'

I told him there too, 'We will stand together on points where we need to be together for Turkey's interests, but we consider these institutions to be the state's institutions; that institution, which has 'national' in its name, must remain at an equal distance to everyone.'

I do not want to evaluate İbrahim Kalın's prayer as a political show... This came out of Erdoğan's mouth in 2012, he had said, 'We will pray in the Umayyad Mosque.' This is not that prayer; even if Erdoğan were to pray it, that prayer is not this prayer! In between, there are 283 martyrs, babies who died, billions of dollars lost, and millions of Syrian refugees.

Furthermore, it is not up to İbrahim Kalın to perform the make-up prayer for Erdoğan's Umayyad Mosque promise!

Here are the prominent headlines from Özel's statements:

What was said on the Presidential website on the 6th? 'We had made a call to Assad, unfortunately, we did not receive a positive response. Idlib is already done, but Homs is in the hands of the opposition. These troubled marches are not as we desired; unfortunately, the heart does not want these, the region is in trouble.' The next day, victory. Erdoğan has the MIT in his hands, and there are many personnel of the Republic of Turkey in the field. We are the main opposition party. Thank goodness, they keep the state's information and documents as if they were their own private property. Erdoğan says, 'The situation is not progressing at all as we wanted; the opposition is advancing towards Damascus.'

"IF DAMASCUS HAD FALLEN ON MONDAY, NO ONE WOULD HAVE SAID ÖZGÜR ÖZEL SAID THIS"

If I had said this, I would have received 10 times the criticism I am getting today. I am very aware of what I am saying. If Damascus had fallen not that day but on Monday, no one would have said 'Özgür Özel said this.' I was in Kilis at that time. 16 hours after I made that speech, we learned that Assad had left the country. Now, the interesting situation is this; while I was making that speech, there are countless Arab Alawites whose relatives live in Hatay. They passed right by them and went to Damascus. Who are those who went? HTS. They passed through Idlib. They went to Damascus. They passed right by Latakia. What images were there 8 years ago? There are elements within that HTS. What could happen when Damascus falls?

"THE TSK COULD HAVE DONE ITS PART AT THIS POINT"

Who can guarantee that HTS, which contains countless Salafi elements, will not burn and destroy, or go to Latakia and commit a massacre? This could only be guaranteed with international assurances if contact could be established with Assad. The TSK could have done its part at this point. Could any of us have guaranteed that it wouldn't happen that day? The jihadists are rushing forward. Erdoğan says, 'It is not going at all as we wanted.'

"I SAID, 'IT IS MY CALL TO ASSAD, CONTACT MUST BE ESTABLISHED WITH ERDOĞAN'"

Now, when we address the issue where the feared outcomes for all of us do not occur. A day before me, a man will say, 'Damascus could fall at any moment, I wish Assad had talked to us,' and no one will say anything to him! I said, 'It is my call to Assad, contact must be established with Erdoğan.' In the meeting I had with Erdoğan, and in a phone call I had with the TRNC President and Mr. Aliyev, I say at one point, 'The CHP is currently the main opposition, the winner of the last election, the first party of Turkey; but when it goes abroad, it is Turkey's party.'

"EVERYTHING OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS HAS PROVEN HIM WRONG"

While we look at foreign policy this way, while we do whatever falls to us to protect Turkey's interests, if he turns around and says 'internal turmoil in his party' or acts impolitely, if Erdoğan stoops to this, it truly means he is in a difficult position. When you open and read the words Erdoğan said a day before, no one has any way to defend them. Now it is being said that Erdoğan succeeded. As if the words he said 13 years ago have proven him right today. Everything over the past 13 years has proven him wrong. Over the past 13 years, or rather 20 years, he has experienced incredible zigzags in Syria.

"HE MADE ASSAD AN ENEMY BY CALLING HIM 'ESED'"

He met with him as a family in Damascus. There were pressures in Syria back then too. Then he made Assad an enemy by calling him 'Esed.' When the refugee problem became a trouble for us and we said 'establish a dialogue with Assad,' he said, 'I will not meet with a dictator with blood on his hands.' In the last 1 year, he said, 'I will also meet with Assad.' He said, 'I requested a meeting with Assad, but Assad did not accept.' These are inconsistencies. In 13 years, Turkey has lost 200 billion dollars. According to official figures, we have 2 million 953 thousand refugees. Aylan babies washed ashore. Countless babies and women died. We have 283 soldier martyrs.

"YOU HAVE LOST SOLDIERS THERE, AND THEN YOU SAY 'I WAS PROVEN RIGHT'"

We have civilian martyrs. Turkey has experienced such great disasters. In the end, what I said happened. Not 13 days, but 13 years. You have not succeeded in a period of power that exceeds the duration granted to many politicians, chairmen, and prime ministers in Turkey. You have lost soldiers there, and then you say, 'I was proven right.' There is no such thing. What is happening now, what is being said, points to a picture far behind and distant from what was feared. Let us hope that common sense prevails. We will talk about this.

"FOR ME, ASSAD WAS ALWAYS A DICTATOR"

I didn't go on vacation to mourn him. For me, Assad was always a dictator. I have always advocated for the democratization of Syria. The Assad regime collapsed in 61 years plus 12 days. If there is torture in your prison, if you are rich and the people are poor, the regime will eventually collapse. Assad also paid for what his father did. He had the opportunity to evolve the issue from the Baath regime to democracy, but he had 13 years, just like Erdoğan, which he squandered. I was never pro-Assad, I never called Assad 'Esed.'

"I WAS NOT GOING TO GO TO SYRIA AND SAY TO ASSAD 'COME LET'S PLAY BACKGAMMON'"

In foreign policy, we said the three-legged stool: do not interfere in the internal affairs of a neighbor, do not engage with non-state actors. If I had gone to Damascus and talked to Assad, I would have talked about the fact that this government would not continue in this country, that its end would not be different from Iraq, Libya, Gaddafi, or Saddam, that he should hand over his power to a transitional government, and about a democratic parliament where Arab Alawites, Druze, Sunnis, Arabs, Turkmens, Kurds would be represented democratically. If there is democracy, the economy improves. I was not going to go to Syria and say to Assad, 'Come let's play backgammon.' Erdoğan wouldn't say that either.

"IT WAS SEEN WHERE THIS WAS GOING"

It was seen that this was coming to an end. It was seen where this was going. Maybe it would have fallen in 10 days, 20 days, 50 days. If a correct exit plan had been found, providing them with an autonomous region in Latakia, ensuring Assad's security, and having him hand over power. If he had taken steps towards a transitional government and democracy in Syria, it would not have come to this. We suggested democracy in Syria.

HOW DOES HE EVALUATE MIT CHIEF İbrahim Kalın PRAYING AT THE UMAYYAD MOSQUE?

İbrahim Kalın is a civil servant. He is not a representative of the AK Party. Even if he does things that would effectively undermine this. He made a presentation to the AK Party, I wrote him a letter. I said, 'What is happening, you should come to us too.' I asked what information to be provided could be valuable for the AK Party, but not for the first party of the last elections. God is my witness, he came. At the October 29 ceremonies. He said, 'Mr. Chairman, I received your letter, I agree with you.'

"IT IS NOT UP TO THE MIT CHIEF TO PERFORM THE MAKE-UP PRAYER FOR ERDOĞAN'S PRAYER"

We decided on the day. I told İbrahim Kalın there too, 'We stand where Turkey's interests require.' We criticize when we need to criticize. We consider the institutions to be the state's institutions. The head of this institution might be the President or a party chairman, but this is temporary. That institution has the name 'national' at its head. I see the MIT as an institution that should be at an equal distance to us. I do not want to evaluate today's course as a political show. In 2012, Erdoğan had said, 'Very soon we will go to the Umayyad Mosque.' 12 years ago. This prayer is not that prayer. Even if he prays now, it is not that prayer. There are so many martyrs, countless refugees. That prayer was the prayer of that day. It is not up to the MIT Chief to perform the make-up prayer for Erdoğan's prayer.

"I DO NOT INTEND TO MEET WITH GOLANI FOR NOW"

I do not intend to meet with Golani for now. If steps are taken towards democracy in Syria, if a real transitional government is established, if it represents all segments, we will also establish communication. HTS is a terrorist organization that contains countless jihadist elements, is said in UN reports to commit torture and disappear people, and is on Turkey's list of terrorist organizations. The fact that the person at the head of that structure founded Al-Nusra and various organizations, and was an ISIS member, has not changed. This does not change by wearing a tie. From the lesson learned by those who designed this issue from Iraq and Libya, they were told not to have a negative attitude towards women and not to attack government offices.

"THEIR CURRENT ATTITUDES ARE NOT THINGS HTS WOULD DO IF LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVICES"

Their current attitudes are not things HTS would do if left to its own devices. America and Israel did this. A democratic structure will not emerge from this HTS. It will take its place in history as a terrorist organization. A new name will be given to this flag of revolution. On the other hand, the PYD has also decided to use the same flag. One should ask Erdoğan, 'Is the PYD a terrorist organization or not?' From now on, will he see the structure using the flag of revolution east of the Euphrates, the PYD, as a terrorist organization or not? I think Erdoğan needs to give a quick answer to this question.

CHP'S FOREIGN POLICY APPROACH

There was a brilliant idea of the party called the Middle East Peace and Cooperation Organization. There is a reality that foreign policy is one thing, and parallel to this, there is something called foreign relations. When I was a candidate for the convention, my most fundamental promises were a strong foreign policy team and strong foreign relations. I made my first visit to the TRNC. On the last Victory Day, Mr. Aliyev said that the CHP's current stance is very correct and he wanted to host me in Baku. In previous periods, our deputy chairman responsible for foreign policy had made a slip of the tongue and said, 'They are celebrating Victory Day there on November 10.'

"WE WANT AN EFFECTIVE POLICY WITH A FULL TARGET FOR THE EU"

There was an expression that unfortunately some jihadist elements were also fighting in the great struggle given in Karabakh. Those expressions were not compensated for quickly. They were tense about it. Let there be no criticism of the previous period and the CHP chairman. Every CHP chairman looks at Azerbaijan with the view of 'one nation, two states.' They were saddened, they were tense. When this happened, we have made efforts since the first day for our relations with Azerbaijan to reach the place they should be, and I have reached a good point. I have made 12 foreign trips. Now I am going to Morocco. I will go to Bulgaria. We want an effective policy that maintains its relations in the Balkans, Europe, the Middle East, the Turkic Republics, Russia, and China, and has a full target for the EU.

My election as vice president in the Socialist International. For example, our call to recognize Palestine in the International, and my having written a Palestine letter to the countries in 110 countries in the world, 24 of which are in power. Our attempt to undertake mediation in the Azerbaijan issue. During my budget speech, the Vice President was there. We are currently in the 100th hour. We will see what will happen, what will end. There was a tweet Cevdet Bey sent.

"WE SAID WE WOULD NOT GIVE AN INCH OF LAND, WE HAVE NO EYES ON ANYONE ELSE'S INCH OF LAND"

Deputy Chairman İlhan Bey evaluated it in the presentation he made to the group. It is not that we will always be on the opposite side. We advocate for Syria's territorial integrity, for steps to be taken rapidly towards democracy, and for all structures to be represented. Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens above all. Everyone being represented. The Vice President had an emphasis on these three points. Some pens and Twitter accounts sympathetic to the government, conquest, we gained land, we took that place, etc. We said we would not give an inch of land, we have no eyes on anyone else's inch of land.

"IF ERDOĞAN SAYS 'THERE WILL BE NO REPRESENTATIVE OF KURDS IN THE STRUCTURE IN SYRIA', HE MAKES A MISTAKE"

If we contribute to a formula where all structures, with their Alawites, Sunnis, Kurds, and Turkmens in Syria, will live together in the future. If Syria becomes a livable place in this regard, if the government takes the right steps, we will support it. If Erdoğan says, 'There will be no representative of Kurds in the structure in Syria,' he makes a mistake. If he says, 'Arab Alawites have ruled until today, let this place rule a little bit,' he makes a mistake. The Arab Alawites living in Latakia are the best people in the world. The most victimized by the war. Living so much on edge. They also deserve democracy.

"DURING THE AK PARTY PERIOD, THE PRACTICE OF MIT AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE OPPOSITION WAS ABANDONED"

If we need it, we don't hold back. Mr. Kalın made three evaluations regarding the PKK, ISIS, and FETÖ. We haven't heard anything from İbrahim Kalın about what is happening today. When he returns to the MIT, it falls to him to inform either the entire parliament or the political parties in the parliament, starting with the main opposition party. I think they will do it. If they don't, without questioning their sincerity, we would think they left this incomplete. If they want to provide relevant information in this process, it would be a job consistent with both the founding purpose and the tradition of the MIT. During the AK Party period, the practice of the MIT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs providing information to the opposition was abandoned.

As the CHP, we have held 7 meetings and studies in the last 1 month, 3 of which were the foreign policy advisory board and 3 were the national security advisory board. We have an academician who is a Middle East expert on each country. We have a deputy chairman in both boards consisting of security experts. We are not a structure that receives intelligence from the field; that is in the hands of the state.

"MILITARY STABILITY MUST BE ENSURED FOR SYRIA TO BECOME A RETURNABLE STATE"

The CHP has the will for Syrian refugees to return to their homelands as soon as possible. But one must see this reality. Military stability must be ensured for Syria to become a returnable state. Then political stability must be ensured. One person from each family will go and check, 'is my house still there?' Otherwise, it's empty talk. They made a mistake to those who left, saying 'if you go, you can't return,' and no one went. They must be given the chance to go and check. If there is a tax debt in Turkey, they don't let them go without paying traffic fines. If the man is going to go, let him go. They need to go as soon as possible, but the environment to go as soon as possible must be created.

"WE MUST PROPOSE A HOMECOMING PACKAGE FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES"

My suggestion to the government; we must propose a homecoming package for Syrian refugees. We must work on this, what motivates those who go and those who stay? My political readings show that those whose children were born in Turkey and those who have children do not want to go due to health concerns. The second is the concern about what will happen to my child's education. We will have a package proposal for Syria. First and foremost, priority among foreign students when children born in Turkey want to go to university. A holiday visa can be given to Turkey. With a special ID, children born in Turkey can benefit from certain discounts and privileges. We should be able to say to those who say 'let them study in Turkey,' 'go, you can come again if necessary.' If there is a health problem in Syria and it cannot be solved, we should say, 'we will take care of it again, you can come to Turkey.' We can build hospitals near the border.

"LET'S DECLARE SYRIA THE 8TH INCENTIVE REGION"

In Turkey, it is very low for those who pay for the minimum wage and very high for those who receive it. Instead of moving factories to Egypt, moving them to Syria. Let these factories employ Syrians in Syria. Let's declare that place the 8th incentive region. As long as they go, live in their homelands, earn, and reside. Turkey needs to think about such a package. I will support all efforts in the Socialist International and the EU. Syrian refugees are currently at the EU's border. Therefore, the issue of the Syria return package is, in my opinion, very critical.

"ISRAEL AND AMERICA'S PLAN WORKED IN SYRIA"

Israel invaded the place that was supposed to be unmanned according to the 1974 agreement, planted a flag, and advanced to Damascus. This is extremely wrong. First, it worked like the HTS air force. Then it hit the infrastructure so it wouldn't fall into the hands of HTS. It is clear that Israel is a significant threat in terms of Syria's territorial integrity. In this regard, UN resolutions should be shown and it should be told 'stop.' Israel and America's plan worked in Syria. Even if Turkey shows itself as successful in domestic politics, someone else's game worked. It is imperative for Turkey to take initiative in Syria from now on. It is necessary to contribute to the creation of the most democratic and stable structure by considering Turkey's border security. To stop Israel's spoiled behavior, we need to do it by taking the international community behind us.

"NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY DENY IT, THERE IS A KURDISH QUESTION"

I do not find it correct to discuss this issue from this context. No matter how much they deny it, there is a Kurdish question. We want terrorism to end in Turkey. Not burying the weapons; burying is a commitment. They take them back later. These weapons must be laid down. Peace must come to Turkey. Turkey must advocate for 'peace at home, peace in the world' in Syria and in Turkey, as Atatürk said. The most critical step is to conduct a process focused on the Parliament. Not to exclude any party or actor. Because talking only about education in the mother tongue, talking only about this or that, leads this process to failure. There is a pre-negotiation period, there are things that need to be done. When moving to negotiation, confidence-building steps must be taken. The negotiation must be participatory and transparent.

"IF A POLITICAL PARTY EXPECTS GAIN FROM THE RESOLUTION OF A TERROR PROBLEM, IT WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL"

No actor should be excluded, politics must be fully represented, and then the calendar must be implemented. If you make a mistake in this process, the conflict process returns quickly. What was the mistake there? The CHP told the truth that day too; 'We will open credit on the condition that this process is in the Parliament, social consensus is sought, it is not used for political interests, and it is conducted with sincerity.' Erdoğan said, 'Take your credit and smash it on your head.' The Parliament was excluded. Negotiations were conducted between the party and the terrorist organization founder leader on the island. If a political party expects gain from the resolution of a terror problem, it will not be successful. It must be the country's interest.

"WHY DOES THE KURD FEEL UNHAPPY?"

This question needs to be negotiated. Why does the Kurd feel unhappy? Why doesn't he feel equal? For example, you can elect a mayor in my hometown Manisa, but you cannot elect a mayor in Hakkari, in Diyarbakır. They appoint trustees to the place you elected. The state gave the clean record, the state gave the mayor, he was convicted with a secret witness, it was proven in court that the secret witness was fake. In Esenyurt, Ahmet Özer is held responsible for a phone call from 10 years ago. If the phone calls of AK Party mayors from 10 years ago were taken as a basis, they would go to jail for being FETÖ members. If there were an election tomorrow and we took power, if these laws remained in place, we wouldn't leave a single mayor. If Kurds in Turkey say we don't feel equal, solving that problem is the debt of all of us. All parties must be invited. 'I look into the eyes of the families of martyrs,' I said. I said this after Bahçeli.

"DEVLET BEY WANTS TO PERFORM THE APPENDICITIS SURGERY LIKE VIKINGS"

On the basis of constitutional equal citizenship, where Kurds feel they fully belong to this country and are equal, no one objects to the flag or the name of the country. Inequalities in practice must be corrected. We must create social consensus all together. 'Let Abdullah Öcalan come and speak at this podium and let terrorism end.' It doesn't happen like that, without social consensus. Devlet Bey and the Justice and Development Party and the MHP must also seek social consensus. Devlet Bey wants to perform the appendicitis surgery like Vikings. Let me stick the knife in and take the appendix out. No patient will remain. It must be solved without accidents, trouble, and without trench incidents. If the main issue had been social consensus, if it had been under the supervision of the TBMM. We wouldn't have come to this point. A correct process must be managed under the supervision and control of the Parliament.

"IF THE SOLUTION WERE A DEMOCRACY OPENING, EVERYONE WOULD BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS"

We were excluded in the past, Turkey did not benefit from this. Both sides blamed each other later. There was no such thing as what happened in Dolmabahçe, etc. Or they said it happened because he said 'I won't let you be president.' There is no point in excluding the İYİ Party or Saadet either. Parties outside the Parliament should be informed regularly. Today, by excluding the CHP, the nephew will go and come and bring news. How many people in Turkey say yes to such a solution? Even DEM voters see it as 68 percent impossible. The process is not managed in a way to be believed. If the root solution to the Kurdish question were a democracy opening, everyone would believe in the process. In the end, both Turks and Kurds win. As our upper identity, as citizens of the Republic of Turkey, everyone wins.

"WE WELCOMED THE MHP SAYING WE WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THE LAW"

We had two meetings regarding the trustees. All opposition parties in the parliament signed on the trustee issue, it was a historic thing. We thank each of them separately. A statement came from the MHP. If you look at the empty side of the glass, it says 'those under investigation cannot be candidates,' the full side said 'we will solve the problem through the law.' We requested an appointment. Our friends say there has been a positive trend. It was said that we will talk to our alliance partners. We welcomed the MHP saying we will solve this problem through the law. We have a four-four-four proposal signed by 10 parties. The MHP will take it to its authorized bodies. In the statement made in front of the door, Mr. Akçay says, 'These things are solved in a constitutional process.' Of course, it is not solved that way.

HOW IS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH KEMAL KILIÇDAROĞLU?

Selvi Hanım only follows her husband. Even if she were following other accounts instead of following the CHP, it would be fine. I am not offended that she doesn't follow the CHP right now, she only follows Kemal Bey. We were together at Kemal Bey's court last. Before that, I had gone to their house to have coffee with my wife. I called him on Sunday to say 'get well soon.' Regarding the traffic accident. I also called on Saturday to offer my condolences, he had lost his son-in-law. We worked with Kemal Bey for 8.5 years. Even then, it was neither very official nor very sincere. There is a language and style that Kemal Bey drew with his managers. We continue the same way we have come to this day, neither more official nor more sincere.

"I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW RESPECT"

I have a responsibility to show deference and respect to Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. He has the right to ask me for something. It wouldn't suit me to say 'intervene in this matter.' There was an election in a party. Let me tell you from the middle of the book. For the first time in the history of the Republic, the chairman changed in a multi-candidate race. A rival had emerged, but it hadn't changed. When it happened to us that day, it was the first time. There was a multi-candidate race. The incumbent chairman was a candidate. In the İYİ Party, the incumbent chairman was not a candidate. Both sides had over 650 votes. The gap widened in the second round. Such a situation is a traumatic situation.

"IF ENOUGH FRIENDS IN THE PM HAD WANTED AN ELECTION, IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED"

For the first time, the chairman and the other candidate who had worked with him for many years were competing. We held the convention on September 4-9 with the same delegates. It was said that an election would be held. If enough friends in the PM had wanted an election, it would have happened. The article most opposed in the convention hall passed with 1100 votes against 39. Most articles passed with consensus against 1 objection. With the contribution of the success of the March 31 election, candidates whose polls were good, Ahmet Akın, Bursa, Adana, Mersin, had come to the fore. With the effect of this, there was a great unity in the convention hall, the business of splitting in half was over. I was elected with 35 provincial chairmen, I had told the other 46 chairmen, 'You are close to me like the Manisa provincial chairman.'

"WE HAD A POLL CONDUCTED FOR CHP MUNICIPALITIES, 58 PERCENT SATISFACTION EMERGED"

When I was a candidate, I told you that something that is in the field has a karşılık in the convention hall. The opposite also happens. Until today, no one is discussing the CHP's chairman or success. We had a poll conducted for CHP municipalities, 58 percent satisfaction emerged. There is satisfaction with the municipalities and the CHP in the field, and hope for the general election to be held. There is no problem with our provincial chairmen or delegates. There were some critical voices from some of Kemal Bey's close friends. There is also consensus in the party group. We are getting better every day. I meet with a friend one-on-one every day, with those who have concerns. No one leaves dissatisfied. There is no friend we talked to and couldn't agree with. But there are also those we haven't talked to. The party has become the first party after 47 years.

"CHP CONVENTION" ALLEGATIONS

The delegates want the convention. At one point, Özlem Gürses said, '700 signatures have been collected.' I said, 'There is not even 70, not even 7.' It gradually encompasses the friends who fell apart. Our friends who have objections are gradually decreasing. I do not gossip about my deputy to my chairman. I cannot be enemies with Oğuz Kaan Bey, we worked together for years. Engin Altay always had a master-apprentice relationship. Can I be at odds with someone who says in Sinop, 'my apprentice became chairman'? A certain number of our friends had concerns, and we are rapidly repairing those issues too. It is impossible for me to push someone aside for someone who grew up in a boarding school, worked as a tradesman, and has been in good relations with all segments of society on a tractor in the village.

At the end of a meeting, I said, 'If friends say injustice is being done, if they say they don't feel fully belonging, it falls to me to solve this.' I made a mistake without knowing. I apologize on behalf of all the unjust for all the righteous in this hall, I said. It was applauded for a long time. Since the day our 81 provincial chairmen said, 'there is no convention, there is an expectation of power,' these discussions have ended. I don't hear about any convention or anything anymore.

DID THE NORMALIZATION STRATEGY WORK?

We won the March 31 election within the definition of normalization. Every time I got on the bus, in every microphone, I said, 'I will not respond to the insults of Erdoğan and Bahçeli, if I fight with them, I will fight for the retiree, the minimum wage earner, the farmer, the worker, and the civil servant.' I said we will unite all democrats and win a victory. I said red, the squares said white. I said the greatest, they said Turkey. No one in this party can say they will lower the flag, they will silence the call to prayer. In that process, a chairman of a political party tried to keep the mass trying to turn to us from his own voters by fighting with me. I said 'may your soul be healthy' to him too. After 22 years, we defeated the AK Party for the first time and made our party the government after 47 years. In September, we came out second in two of the 6 polls, we recovered again in October.

"THE VOTER WANTS US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN TROUBLES, NOT OUR INTERNAL ISSUES"

My friends are working with artificial intelligence. There is something called a word cloud. Artificial intelligence collects the words that come out of my mouth, the mouths of party spokespersons, group chairmen, and makes a cloud. The biggest word in our cloud is inflation, livelihood trouble, inflation, price hike, minimum wage. Only in the cloud of August, the biggest thing is the convention, then the election, the delegate. Whenever our word cloud turned to these, our votes dropped. The voter wants us to talk about their own troubles, not our internal issues. Democratic ways are open in the convention. Currently, the delegate, the party member wants power.

"WE NEED TO LEAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS BEHIND"

Yesterday our friends held a closed group meeting. I had a delegation. We have a closed group meeting with a foreign policy agenda next week. In our closed group meetings, three deputies are already given the floor upon request. We need to leave these discussions behind. Artificial intelligence and the field say this too. I meet with our friends one-on-one. Conventions are traumatic processes, is it easy? One side is offended, sensitive, feels excluded. We did whatever was necessary to remove that.

"WE EXPERIENCED THE FIRST ELECTION DEFEAT OF TAYYIP ERDOĞAN, WHO WAS SAID TO BE UNBEATABLE"

We also talk about the CHP very nicely. We also manage Turkey very nicely since we manage the CHP. If there is no discussion on any issue within a party, it means there is no democracy in that party. This is the difference of the CHP anyway. We discuss inside, we implement all together outside. We became the government after 47 years, we experienced the first election defeat of Tayyip Erdoğan, who was said to be unbeatable. This was local, he got the taste of the local, he will get the taste of losing the election in general.

"THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THE ECONOMY, SUBTITLE INFLATION, LIVELIHOOD TROUBLE"

Even if it's a child, it doesn't come out of the incubator in a hundred hours. The Syria issue happened, results, etc. People will look after 3 months, 6 months. What is the situation in Syria, what is the situation in Turkey? How did the government manage, what contribution did the opposition make? It's only the 100th hour. There is a statement, polling companies withdraw from the field for 10 days. Tayyip Bey said, 'Israel will attack Turkey.' Is there such an agenda now? Does the danger of Israel war lock the voter to Tayyip Bey? It passed and went. People are poor, hungry, insecure. Currently, the first problem is the economy, subtitle inflation, livelihood trouble. Foreign policy is in the 9th place, concerns about national security are in the 4th, 5th place.

"ERDOĞAN SAID THAT THE MINIMUM WAGE WOULD BE RAISED 3 TIMES A YEAR"

Before the March 31 elections, I said this in the squares. 'This is a local election,' I said. Erdoğan wanted the local elections to pass like general elections by trusting himself, not his candidates. I asked if this was not a general election. I said I would not demand a general election at the end of this election. I didn't say, 'I will not have an early election call by justifying this election result.' But there is a livelihood problem for people in this country. I said if there is no livelihood, there will be an election. Erdoğan said that the minimum wage would be raised 3 times a year.

Before the presidential elections, he said, '3 updates if necessary.' But he didn't do it even once in 2024. The retiree salary was made 12 thousand 500 liras. Nothing was done there either. In Rize, tea producers, their own fellow citizens are rebelling, pistachio producers, cotton producers are rebelling. They put 2 per thousand of the budget for supports related to these. People are experiencing great livelihood trouble. I say, 'we are not in it except for 30 in the minimum wage.' If he gave the minimum wage earner his right, would he want an election?

"ERDOĞAN WAS ELECTED FOR 5 YEARS. THIS IS HIS LAST TERM"

Erdoğan was elected for 5 years. This is his last term. For him to be a candidate again, an early election must be held. It must also be done by a parliamentary decision. He needs us. I say to Erdoğan, 'half from you, half from me.' I say if you trust yourself, come be a candidate, if you win, you will do it for 2.5 more years. You already did 2.5 years. I say, 'come be a candidate again right in the middle of the term, otherwise you won't be able to be a candidate again.' If he says 'let's have an election' 3 months or 6 months before the elections, I will not give support.

The constitution he praises so much to that citizen says, 'you cannot be a candidate.' If so, he shouldn't have put this article. He said, 'come change the constitution, let me be a candidate.' Are we going to change the constitution for that? How will he answer this question in the polls; the AK Party has no candidate. Tayyip Erdoğan is not the candidate of the AK Party today, but of the MHP. What is the AK Party's widespread discourse? The election will be on time. If it is on time, can Erdoğan be a candidate? If the election is on time, he cannot be a candidate. The MHP's candidate is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. What do they say, 'if Abdullah Öcalan comes out, if there is a speech, if the constitution changes during this time, if Erdoğan becomes a candidate,' they say.

"THE CONSTITUTION HE PRAISES SO MUCH TO THAT CITIZEN SAYS, 'YOU CANNOT BE A CANDIDATE'"

The constitution he praises so much to that citizen says, 'you cannot be a candidate.' If so, he shouldn't have put this article. He said, 'come change the constitution, let me be a candidate.' Are we going to change the constitution for that? How will he answer this question in the polls; the AK Party has no candidate. Tayyip Erdoğan is not the candidate of the AK Party today, but of the MHP. What is the AK Party's widespread discourse? The election will be on time. If it is on time, can Erdoğan be a candidate? If the election is on time, he cannot be a candidate. The MHP's candidate is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. What do they say, 'if Abdullah Öcalan comes out, if there is a speech, if the constitution changes during this time, if Erdoğan becomes a candidate,' they say.

"I WILL NOT ALLOW MY EMOTIONS TO GET AHEAD OF MY MIND"

I made a promise to myself. Let me even explain it to you for the first time, I entered the room of the headquarters through the door, the employee friend in the private office came, I said, 'let no one have any concerns, we will continue together.' We laughed, we shook hands. I was left alone in the chairman's room, the chair is standing in front of me. I promise myself for İpek, for their future, I said. I will not allow my emotions to get ahead of my mind in determining the most correct candidate. I promised to determine the most correct candidate other than myself. I promised for my daughter İpek and for the future of the children. I believe that if the AK Party wins an election again, it will make a negative contribution to Turkey's economic and political future, that there is a need for change 100 years after the party founded by Atatürk, and that the change of power in Turkey will be an important perception for the world.

"ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A CANDIDATE CAN BE A CANDIDATE"

I promised for my daughter's future. My emotions will not get ahead of my mind. By symbolizing the power of the party, I had said, 'we have a right and left opening.' Anyone who wants to be a candidate can be a candidate. Whoever has it in their heart, the way is open. I will not make this decision alone. If he makes this decision together with the MYK, he will make fewer mistakes. He will not make a mistake with the PM, but it is still open to mistakes. Of course, the parliamentary group votes on the final decision. What I have in my heart is for it to be a participatory method that includes all our members. If our candidate naturally becomes a candidate, what a joy. If there is more than one candidate. We determine the most correct candidate by taking the opinions of the members. There is a member in my heart, but that was in the heart of CHP member Özgür Özel. You hosted the chairman here, if you find CHP member Özgür Özel, you ask him.

"WE DO NOT ASK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN THE POLLS"

We all want the most correct candidate to be determined in the most participatory way and for this election to be won guaranteed. We are not asking about the presidential candidate in the polls right now. We are asking about the party's performance. There is an average of 58 percent satisfaction. It is necessary to evaluate 21 provinces within themselves, new metropolitan cities within themselves, and old metropolitan cities within themselves.

"BOTH EKREM BEY AND MANSUR BEY PASSED THESE TESTS"

I also heard from Mansur Yavaş, he says 'if my party nominates me.' Both Ekrem Bey and Mansur Bey passed these tests. The most fundamental common feeling in the CHP is this; 100 years later, the Republic of Turkey needs the CHP again. There is a need for a CHP government that is populist, prioritizes the common interests of society, and will ensure economic, social, and gender equality. We passed our charter unanimously. We are working in 81 provinces and 973 districts on what problem the CHP proposes and what you say. We are in a program study on how the CHP will carry this society to high goals, which sees women, sees the environment, catches the era, where the development goal is clearly explained, and which clearly puts its stance on the Istanbul Convention? We will put our government program in front of Turkey.

"WHOEVER IS THE MOST CORRECT CANDIDATE IN THE CHP WILL BE THAT CANDIDATE"

Whoever is the most correct candidate in the CHP will be that candidate. The chairman of the CHP is at the point of the fundamental decision-maker. When 40-year-old friends start buttoning their jackets in front of me, I say, 'don't do it, friends.' They don't treat someone sitting in Atatürk's seat like they used to. The chairmanship in the CHP is a different position. There is a candidate who will win the election in the CHP, it is found, it is agreed upon. That person will carry Turkey to the parliamentary system and transform it into democracy. This system produces disaster as it is. This system causes the person's mistakes and the transformation of his surroundings into a power above democracy. The poorest countries in the world are governed by presidential and semi-presidential systems.

WILL THERE BE A POLITICAL BAN FOR EKREM İMAMOĞLU?

I don't put it in a near place, I don't think they will make such a mistake at all. If they make such a mistake, they will have set the state against the nation again. People love their state, go to the military, die for it if necessary. But if someone dictates to maintain their power in front of it, if the state and the nation compete, the nation wins. On March 31, AA and TRT turned into the government's election apparatus. Provincial chairman performance was expected from governors. Our soldiers, our expert studies voted in places they never went to. The CHP was on the side of the nation. The nation won. If they prevent a candidate's candidacy, they will make that candidate the President very soon.

"THIS IS THE SIIRT TRILOGY THAT WILL GO DOWN IN WORLD HISTORY"

The nation makes them pay the price of that political ban at the ballot box. Doesn't Tayyip Bey remember this from somewhere? Currently, Tayyip Bey is experiencing the trilogy that will go down in world political history. A ban came from the poem he read in Siirt. Upon our resignation of the Siirt deputies, the Siirt elections were renewed. Tayyip Bey appointed a trustee to the mayor elected by Siirt with 63 percent last term. This is the Siirt trilogy that will go down in world history. If Tayyip Bey, who was supported and embraced by the nation when a political ban came to him, wants to bring a political ban, he will have to watch this movie from the end.

After the raise they made last time, I gathered the retirees. I held 105 rallies. I was saying let the retirees raise their hands, the huge square was full of retirees. I say this for the retiree and the minimum wage earner. If a retiree or a minimum wage earner drops the quarter gold he put in his pocket, he searches the roads. Our retiree, our minimum wage earner have lost 4 quarter golds every month. Where will they find them? They will find them in the election. We have an objection to the minimum wage below 30 thousand liras.

"THERE ARE NEW POOR IN TURKEY: TEACHERS, CIVIL SERVANTS ARE POOR"

We have an objection to the retiree's right being eaten. This year was declared the year of the retiree. Retirees say damn it. Let Tayyip Bey do this calculation correctly. If there is going to be a shaking, by God, this nation was fed up, but it will shake these off and throw them away. There are new poor in Turkey: teachers, civil servants are poor. White-collar workers used to receive salaries. They had 4 bonuses. Now the one who receives a salary pays as much tax as 4 salaries. There is such an unfair tax system. Since we will not talk about candidates and anything else in the next broadcast. I invite you to the headquarters just to talk about the economy. Finding my group chairmanship period successful is very good for me. On the evening of the next election, he will also say 'a successful chairman' for me.