First response from CHP to Kılıçdaroğlu: 'No one can sit in our Ancestor's seat by order of the AKP'

CHP Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır responded to the "purification" and "nullity" remarks made by former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a video he released. Başarır stated, "Kılıçdaroğlu is talking about the purification of justice. No one can sit in our Ancestor's seat by order of the AK Party."

CHP Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır made critical statements regarding the agenda during a press conference he held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Başarır clarified the noteworthy assessments and expressions that sparked debate within the party, which were made by former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a video released on social media.

"IF KILIÇDAROĞLU WERE HERE, HE WOULD HAVE WALKED WITH US"

Drawing attention to the situation of imprisoned mayors and party officials, Başarır reminded that these individuals were also nominated during Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's term and used the following expressions:

“If Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu were sitting in this seat today, both the very valuable Zeydan Karalar, who was nominated during his own term, and Ekrem İmamoğlu, to whom he said ‘You will win Istanbul,’ would have walked with us. When he was arrested, he would have walked with us from Ankara to Istanbul again. Büyükçekmece, Kartal, Beşiktaş, Beylikdüzü… These are all our mayors who were nominated in 2019. We nominated them together, we raised our hands. The very valuable Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also raised his hand. In Antalya, looking into Muhittin Böcek's eyes, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu raised his hands. We nominated them, we went and worked. I suppose that is what he means."

"HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE PURIFICATION OF AN UNLAWFUL ORDER"

Stating that he interpreted Kılıçdaroğlu's "purification" words as "the purification of the judiciary and justice," Başarır continued his words as follows:

"When he says purification, he is talking about the purification of justice, he is talking about the purification of the judiciary; the Chairman is talking about the purification of an order where he himself and our fellow travelers who walk with us are currently in prison due to unfair, unlawful indictments and investigations. That is how I perceived it. I think he sees that the threats made against our party are polluting this country.”

''NO ONE CAN SIT IN OUR ANCESTOR'S SEAT BY ORDER OF THE AKP''

Touching upon the "nullity" (legal invalidity) debate that shook the political agenda, Ali Mahir Başarır argued that Kılıçdaroğlu was actually reacting to the government's pressure and maneuvers on the judiciary with this move:

"For instance, I perceived similar things regarding the 'nullity' issue. I see that he defines a decision that we could call a coup against the party, made by the AK Party's order-based method, as immorality. I see these in his statement. I see him saying that with a nullity decision, by the order of the AK Party, no one will sit in the CHP's, our Ancestor's seat, by trampling on the honor and dignity of any of our friends.”

The entirety of CHP Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır's statements:

“If Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu were sitting in this seat today, both the very valuable Zeydan Karalar, who was nominated during his own term, and Ekrem İmamoğlu, to whom he said ‘You will win Istanbul,’ would have walked with us. When he was arrested, he would have walked with us from Ankara to Istanbul again.

Büyükçekmece, Kartal, Beşiktaş, Beylikdüzü… These are all our mayors who were nominated in 2019. We nominated them together, we raised our hands. The very valuable Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also raised his hand. In Antalya, looking into Muhittin Böcek's eyes, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu raised his hands. We nominated them, we went and worked. I suppose that is what he means.

When he says purification, he is talking about the purification of justice, he is talking about the purification of the judiciary; the Chairman is talking about the purification of an order where he himself and our fellow travelers who walk with us are currently in prison due to unfair, unlawful indictments and investigations. That is how I perceived it.

I think he sees that the threats made against our party are polluting this country. For instance, I perceived similar things regarding the 'nullity' issue. I see that he defines a decision that we could call a coup against the party, made by the AK Party's order-based method, as immorality. I see these in his statement. I see him saying that with a nullity decision, by the order of the AK Party, no one will sit in the CHP's, our Ancestor's seat, by trampling on the honor and dignity of any of our friends.”