Özel's reaction to Erdoğan on Syria: 'We lost 200 billion dollars because we said we would take in refugees'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel made statements before the Party Assembly (PM) meeting.

"ASSAD WAS ALWAYS A DICTATOR"

Speaking about Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, Özel said, "We propose a democratic regime in Syria that will represent all ethnic and sectarian groups. Our suggestion to Assad was in this direction as well. What was Erdoğan doing at that time? He was going on family vacations with Assad. Then, an illusion was created in Turkey as if he had suddenly become a dictator. Assad was always a dictator, and his father was a dictator too. Those prisons have always been full of dissidents for years. Then, as if Erdoğan had suddenly learned this, Assad suddenly became 'Esed'."

"TRUMP IS NOT REFERRING TO THE TSK, BUT TO HTS"

Touching upon the words of US President-elect Donald Trump regarding AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel noted the following:

"Trump said to Erdoğan, 'He built a very strong army, he is a very smart man.' I wish he were referring to the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces); he is referring to HTS. Do you remember this tone? This is the tone in the threat letter Trump wrote to Erdoğan. Now he is patting him on the back. This statement is not just praise. There is a threat behind it. He has a task, a homework assignment for him. Otherwise, he is saying, 'Remember what happened in the past.' I say to the AKP members who are happy about this statement: just as that letter embarrassed me, this tone embarrassed me just as much. The President of Turkey does not deserve this. We will have a president who cannot be spoken to in this way."

Here are the highlights from Özgür Özel's speech:

"Sir, 'Erdoğan succeeded in Syria.' Erdoğan did not succeed. 'Erdoğan won.' No, Erdoğan did not win. Israel won in Syria, America won in Syria, and an interim period began in Syria whose service to Turkey's national interests is unclear. Now, at this point, while we should be cool-headed and defend the truth, we are faced with a government trying to compensate for the defeat of the March 31 elections with what is happening in Syria and a political illusion effort...

"ASSAD WAS ALWAYS A DICTATOR"

"Today, there is a reality on Turkey's agenda where Syria, refugees, terrorism, and the Kurdish issue are all discussed together. As you know, as the CHP, we have been against the issue of Turkey's engagement with our neighbor Syria from the very beginning. The essence and root of our call to Assad from the very beginning was for him to democratize, to reach a government that would represent Syria, democratic elections, and a democratic regime. Erdoğan had the understanding of 'Let's overthrow Assad in Syria first, then we'll see.' Before that, photos hand-in-hand with Assad, going on vacations... Did Assad suddenly declare his dictatorship and Erdoğan decided to fight? There is an effort for a political illusion. Yet, Assad was always a dictator. Those prisons that break our hearts were always full. There was always a suspicion of torture. Erdoğan was arm-in-arm with Assad back then. Assad did not become a dictator in one day. A role was assigned to Turkey, and Erdoğan took his position. He sought ways to destroy Assad, which was not possible during these 13 years. With the plan of America and Israel, and the persuasion of Russia, HTS, which Turkey should have disarmed, started its march towards Damascus against the regime in Syria.

"ERDOĞAN'S EXCITEMENT IS NOT ON THE STREETS"

We see that the excitement Erdoğan feels is not on the streets. There are over 4 million Syrian refugees in our country. To say you won, you either gain a military victory or gain territory. Or you gain money. You have given 283 martyrs and civilian martyrs, you have lost 200 billion dollars, and you say you won.

"WE LOST 200 BILLION DOLLARS FOR SYRIANS"

Now it is time for the Syrians to return to their countries. I think they will also return by learning that having a democracy with strong roots is more important than one-man rule in Turkey.

Turkey's problem is still the over 4 million Syrians currently in Turkey. The temporary protection status must now be canceled, taking into account the conditions in Syria. We lost 200 billion dollars because we said we would take in refugees. To say you won, you either gain money or territory. You will give 283 martyrs, you will cause refugees to come to Turkey, you will lose money, and then you will say 'I was right'.

You were not. The CHP was right. Currently, 500 thousand households of Syrians are living in Turkey. We have learned that causing a wave of migration in a country has heavy costs. Unfortunately, we will continue to pay the price. We have learned from Syria how valuable the foreign policy entrusted to us by Mustafa Kemal is, and that a country cannot be managed like a company.

Now it is time for the Syrians to return to their countries. The status of temporary refugees needs to be terminated following a certain schedule. The Minister says; apart from the Syrians, there are 2.2 million irregular, illegal immigrants. Nearly 6.5 million people who are here themselves and are a burden to the country live in Turkey.

If anyone objects to the account that Turkey lost 200 billion dollars, let them come forward and I will challenge them. This means one hundred times 70 billion... It is 100 times the money needed to give a minimum wage to retirees. We say let's make the minimum wage 30 thousand. The money needed for a 30 thousand minimum wage is 250 billion. This money is exactly 35 times that. This money is a huge amount of money. They called the earthquake the 'disaster of the century'. According to Erdoğan's account, the cost of the disaster of the century is 100 billion dollars; the money we spent on Syrians is 200 billion dollars. The earthquake destroyed us once, Erdoğan's Syria policy destroyed us twice.

On the street, it is not what the AKP is pumping, but when they will leave and the minimum wage that is being discussed. Erdoğan, who said before the series, 'If necessary, we will raise it 3 times more a year, thus updating the minimum wage 4 times a year with inflation adjustment,' did not make a minimum wage adjustment throughout 2024. When you look at the rent, transportation, and basic food expenses of a minimum wage earner, the inflation of the minimum wage earner is 78 percent. When this raise is given, it becomes 30 thousand liras. However, a welfare share should be given and it should be 35-40. We see that the expectation regarding the minimum wage is 30 and above. Our minimum wage expectation is 30, we are not below it! We will continue to maintain this struggle everywhere.

MUNICIPALITIES' SGK DEBT

Explain, who has SGK debt. Let's see, and if necessary, we will be the ones embarrassed. Let's see who has debt.

I want to state that I reject this new practice of the EU to Leyen. They are here during election time, it is being discussed. But in times of crisis, they go to Erdoğan, shake hands, and get their business done. This is a democracy, despite everything. There are 11 political parties other than the AKP-MHP. You cannot see this country as a one-man regime of a Middle Eastern geography. Shake hands with the strongmen in the Middle East, make deals, state the visible issues, but there is a world of injustice under the iceberg... I am warning the EU. We saw the Aylan babies washed ashore. We saw those who died in the boats that Greece blew up. Shake hands with the one-man, make a deal, give the money... I say to Ms. Leyen, 'Despite Erdoğan's efforts to render it dysfunctional, this country has a parliament, a CHP that won the last elections and will take power in the next elections. You cannot shake hands with a one-man and get your business done!'

PLAN TO MAKE SYRIANS CITIZENS

For example; in Europe, temporary protection status is given for 6 months. It can be extended at most 4 times. In the end, either this business is ended or a new status is given. Turkey has been keeping more than 2 million people for 13 years. Now that regime is gone, Assad is not there. The justification has disappeared. Temporary protection status cannot be granted due to climate, poverty, or economic crisis. We want to express that a state determination towards legal regulations must be implemented for them to return to their homelands by first removing incentives and then privileges. The remaining 2.2 million people in Turkey... I want Erdoğan to explain what he thinks about those who are not deported even though they are caught. What is on his mind is this; I see that he is trying to turn his own desperation into the country's disaster by thinking that if I make at least half of the 6.5 million people citizens and let them vote in the elections, maybe I will have a chance. That is why one does not say 'those who want to go can go, those who stay are on my head.' They are not on your head, they are on the bread of the nation.

Erdoğan started making gold calculations for the first time yesterday. You can talk about many things in Turkey, the gold calculation does not fail. He has twisted and turned it, completely distorted calculations. How much gold was Uncle Mahmut buying on the day you came, what was his salary? Don't come to me with a ping-pong ball. Everyone knows their own inflation. We are faced with a government that has crushed its own retirees even according to its own minimum wage. As a result of this process, we advocate for those who should be smiling in Turkey to finally smile. Mr. Tayyip last made Israel and Trump smile. They are making a Syria fuss to drown out your voice. As the CHP, we continue to defend the citizen's agenda against this artificial agenda."