Özgür Özel and Müsavat Dervişoğlu respond to 'alliance' question

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel and IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu attended a reception hosted by TRNC Assembly Speaker Zorlu Töre and his wife Emel Töre on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.

The two leaders answered questions from journalists there.

Regarding a question about the "normalization" process between political parties, Dervişoğlu said, "There was never any abnormalization between us," adding, "Those seeking normalization—and my words here are not directed at Mr. Özgür—are those who made the system abnormal, who made the process abnormal. We, the Republican People's Party and the ruling party, worked under normal standards in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), but I find it strange that those who try to profit politically by straining society and turning that tension into polarization present these meetings, which are actually a routine association, as a demand for normalization. Our relations have always been normal."

"OUR RELATIONS WITH THE CHP HAVE NEVER BEEN ABNORMAL"

Reminding that he and CHP Chairman Özel were colleagues both now and in the past, Dervişoğlu spoke as follows:

"I believe that Turkey meeting on common ground, meeting on what is reasonable, and meeting on what is acceptable will solve the problems today. Therefore, there is no need for any other search. In other words, the Republican People's Party may have a need for normalization with the Justice and Development Party, and the Justice and Development Party with the IYI Party, but our relations with the Republican People's Party have never been abnormal. Therefore, I am not in search of normalization. We have had our grievances against each other from time to time, but that has never changed our private lives, our political goals, or our expectations. Those are things that are in the nature of politics. We welcome it with respect, we embrace it with love."

"WE ARE AN OPPOSITION PARTY IN TURKEY"

Özgür Özel also said in response to the same question that the relations between his party and the IYI Party have always been normal.

Özel stated, "Until the nation gives a new task, we are the main opposition party, we are opposition parties. Once we step outside of Turkey, we are Turkey's party. We are an opposition party in Turkey. Anyone who sees us abroad as a party that will oppose Turkey's common interests is very mistaken. It is very clear that the cadres who founded the Republic, those who carried out the Cyprus Peace Operation, and those who have always been together in the interest of this country throughout their lives will not exhibit anything other than being Turkey's party abroad. I agree exactly."

"TURKEY NEEDS TO HAVE A STRONG PARLIAMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"

Expressing that the chairmen of both the CHP and the IYI Party have changed recently and that both newly elected chairmen come from the position of group deputy chairman, Özel continued his words as follows:

"It means our emphasis on a strong Parliament was not in vain. Our importance to the Parliament was not in vain. They ask from time to time, what does the CHP say about the strengthened parliamentary system? We say the same thing today as we said on the day we signed it. Turkey needs to have a strong parliament as soon as possible. The fact that even the leadership changes in opposition parties are carried out through group deputy chairmen shows that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which the opposition as a whole has always defended, really has a different place in the hearts of the nation and the parties."

TWO LEADERS RESPOND TO ALLIANCE QUESTION

In response to the question, "The two parties did not go into an alliance in the last local elections. After the change in leadership, could the parties enter into a thought of moving forward under an alliance again before a possible next election? Could this be a step towards that?" Dervişoğlu stated that there are still 4 years until the next election if it is held on time, and that it is not possible to say anything yet.

Özel also said the following in response to this question:

"Likewise, now is the time for every party to explain itself to the public in the most accurate way, to carry out the most accurate opposition, and to prepare itself for power. In the past, if you could not win the election alone, there would be a reasonable period of 40 days of coalition negotiations after the election. Now, if such a need is seen as the elections approach, everything is discussed a reasonable time before, but the most correct thing is for everyone to do the most correct politics with their own identity and their own cadres. We will continue the solidarity of the opposition with each other within the framework of respect and love. We will also continue our competition in a positive sense. But there is one thing we know: we have a lot of history where we can vouch for each other, both with our parties and personally. No harm will come to this country from us. We will unite there when necessary, whatever the interest of the country is. And when necessary, we will try to do the best separately."