CHP responds to 'normalization' criticisms

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel will complete his first year in office on November 5.

Özel led his party to become Turkey's leading party in the March 31 Local Elections, which was his first test as chairman.

Following the local elections, a period of normalization in politics began to be discussed after the reciprocal visits he made with AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The normalization period caused reactions within the party.

Following the arrest of Ahmet Özer and the appointment of a trustee to the Esenyurt Municipality, discussions regarding the normalization period began to be voiced more loudly.

Most recently, CHP Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer criticized the party leadership, stating, "The job for the CHP right now is to provide support for the success of the municipalities and to focus on the economy, which is Turkey's real agenda. Chasing unnecessary fantasies like normalization, softening... These are not the agenda of the main opposition party."

"THE FRUIT-BEARING TREE GETS STONED"

According to the report by Gazete Duvar, the Özel administration responded to the 'normalization' criticisms by saying, "The fruit-bearing tree gets stoned."

Emphasizing that as an administration that won the March 31 local elections, they still maintain their position as the leading party, CHP executives assessed, "The new politics being pursued has its fruits. One should not look too negatively at the party and the chairman being talked about and being on the agenda so much—even if some of it is intended to wear us down. After all, we are a very important actor in politics, and that is not a bad thing."