Özgür Özel: My brother, the FETÖ members you fed and fattened were staging a coup, I stood by you

Özel answered questions from Sinem Fıstıkoğlu, İsmail Saymaz, and Kürşad Oğuz during a live broadcast on Halk TV.

Following the trial regarding the fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya region of Bolu, Özgür Özel said, "We see the Minister of Tourism following it from his yacht. He is avoiding accountability. We will fight to ensure it doesn't end up like Soma." Özel stated that there are similarities between the Soma mine disaster and the Kartalkaya incident.

"Six months ago, I submitted a motion for Parliament to investigate this issue, stating that classical inspection methods are ineffective. In Soma, mining companies would be informed before the inspector was even told. If a tool is to be used in a mine, it must be electric and rechargeable. They were burying gasoline-powered vehicles inside the excavations. They said ventilation was insufficient, but they didn't do it out of greed for money. Here, too, they said, 'Let the season pass, we'll look into it.' Today, the first defendant was the general manager, and he spoke saying, 'I am the manager of the other hotel.' A lawyer asked, 'Is it in your hotel?' and he said, 'No.' Okay, maybe he isn't entirely responsible for this, but they made the same mistakes there too."

Özel's statements are as follows:

The trial began with many deficiencies; the person who lost 8 children in the fire is a very important name for the AKP... He is not a member of parliament, but he is a name with influence in the AKP... The main responsible persons who should be tried in this court are not here, and the reason for their absence is that the minister did not grant permission. The prosecutor's office requested it, but the minister did not grant permission. I hope the court will overturn this decision by the minister.

The ministry is absent during the accountability phase! We are not saying that the questions that should be asked to the Bolu municipality should not be asked....

Giving examples from Germany regarding mining accidents, Özel stated that training on occupational accidents and occupational safety is strict, emphasizing that there has been no loss of life in mines for 13 years.

12 MARTYRS AS A RESULT OF METHANE GAS POISONING

Regarding the poisoning of 19 soldiers by methane gas and the martyrdom of 12 of them during the search for the body of Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred in the Claw-Lock Operation region, Özel said, "One of our soldiers was martyred 2 years ago. Finding him is important, but there is no measurement inside, and there is no one outside. If 19 chicks entrusted to the state died, you would hold someone accountable. You are a great state. But 12 lions died. How was such a mistake made in vain? We will be there on the floor of Parliament to investigate this matter. Of course, after the funerals are held."

NEW INVESTIGATION AGAINST ÖZGÜR ÖZEL FOR INSULTING THE PRESIDENT

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made the following statements regarding the investigation opened against him and the summary of proceedings sent to Parliament:

"If he didn't open an investigation against me, if he said, 'There is freedom of expression, there is no need to open an investigation,' they would exile that prosecutor. And it was opened on a Sunday evening. Because if they had left it for Monday morning, Akın Gürlek would have opened it. What I am pleased about is that it is not under Akın Gürlek's authority. The man has arrogance, he has been spoiled. But because he is the prosecutor of His Majesty, he does everything. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office did very well. At least he didn't let himself be crushed by that Akın. He filed a compensation lawsuit against me. Hulusi Akar had filed one in the past, and we won that too. But there are friends placed on the podium from the AKP Youth Branches. He doesn't care about any of our tears."

Özgür Özel gave the following response to the question regarding the possibility of his immunity being lifted and its potential consequences:

"Everything is expected. It means he takes the risk. This also has a cost. But they are enduring many costs, and they will take the risk of enduring this one too."

We became the first party after the election. I went and paid a visit. We said let's manage the Union of Municipalities of Turkey together, they didn't do it at all. But they said this normalization benefits the CHP.

The CHP wants terrorism to end. The state is meeting with the head of the terrorist organization. They accuse us, saying you met with DEM. The essence of the matter is this: I win where I win the election, and where I cannot win, I support the person who will not commit crimes against the city. My candidate is Ahmet Özer. He is also Kurdish. I found names from the Kurdish political movement and put them forward. They counted these as crimes. There is nothing there, but on this side, it is a crime because a Kurd entered the municipal council. Ours will lie in prison, while the process will proceed on the other side."

Stating that this hardening is linked to the rise of the CHP in the process described as normalization, Özel said, "Voices don't disappear, but they say they stay in the atmosphere. If we hear those voices, one says 'Normalization benefits the CHP,' and he says, 'Don't end it, make them end it.' First, it was the lieutenants. It turned around and assigned Akın Gürlek. The Constitution says that if someone leaves the podium, they cannot return. But Akın Gürlek returned. They don't count it because it doesn't say deputy minister. Akın Gürlek became the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul while he was an AKP politician," he said.

Announcing that he has a meeting with all CHP mayors tomorrow, Özgür Özel stated that they will draw a roadmap after holding a MYK (Central Executive Board) meeting afterwards.

Referring to the provincial and district rallies held every week, Özgür Özel said, "A political party's rallies do not become popular like this. This is a state of activism. History wants to take part in this action at some point."

Özgür Özel continued his speech as follows:

"He tells me, 'Withdraw from the streets, return to your headquarters.' On one hand, there is a threat. The man he told to 'leave Ekrem' has 15.5 million votes behind him. I owe it to the aunt who went to vote with her cane in both hands. He tells me 'leave Ekrem.' There were unprecedented crowds in all the streets of Turkey. Whoever turns their back on Ekrem İmamoğlu turns their back on the nation. He is no longer Özgür's or the party's candidate. He is the nation's candidate.

He has fallen to 29 percent. He is trying to stir up our party. Political engineering in his own way. Everything has an end. He was saying, 'I was elected, I will do it.' Well, now I have won.

Özgür Özel:
Everything has an end, he was saying 'I won, I will do it,' now I have wonhttps://t.co/P0QCvL8SyH pic.twitter.com/0LcsEKJlT9

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) July 7, 2025

Election law in Turkey is the law of objection. The YSK's (Supreme Election Council) decision is final. You cannot go anywhere else. If you say 'completely unlawful' after this, every election becomes controversial. It is not possible for the court of first instance to act as the appellate court of the YSK. They are looking to prolong that case. There will be no result."

WHY IS IT WANTED FOR THE EARLY ELECTION TO BE NOVEMBER 2?

Özgür Özel said that November 2 is not a special day and that they want the election to be held before winter. Özel said, "He has a problem like this. He lost on March 31 and blamed it on his bad candidates. He had himself asked about the polls on the plane. He said he came out first in the polls. If you are first, put the ballot box. Courage is about today. Come, be brave in November," he said.

AZİZ İHSAN AKTAŞ'S ALLEGATIONS AND THE MANAVGAT INVESTIGATION

Özgür Özel said, "If those images are a montage, we will stand behind our friend. But if it is not a montage, may God punish him a thousand times. In such a period, if he didn't think about his party's future, let alone his own and his family's honor, it is impossible to forgive. There is some information, and it is not encouraging. I don't want to say anything early, of course."

Özel said that in a situation where there is corruption somewhere, the CHP will be against it. Stating that the AKP bought media outlets by creating a pool, Özel said, "They bought media for the AKP. We will be against it. I said the key in your pocket is not the key to the safe or your future term, or the party's power. We will not allow one rotten egg to rot the whole basket. We are not a party that will say 'your thief, my thief'," he said.

Saying that even people to whom Ekrem İmamoğlu sold houses 20 years ago were called to testify, Özel said, "A person knows the job from himself. The police were exhausted from digging, and Mayor Ekrem was exhausted because he was away from Istanbul unjustly," he said.

Speaking about Aziz İhsan Aktaş's allegations, Özel said the following:

"Aziz İhsan Aktaş enters transportation tenders. 4-5 companies enter jobs of this scale. One comes and withdraws from there. He comes, and the others withdraw from there. They don't step on each other's toes. He usually came to CHP municipalities after working with AKP members. Utku Caner Çaykara never gave a tender. He came and said, 'Let me continue.' He didn't give a tender again either. AKP members can't find a place to park their election car. We barely find vehicles. He set up an election commission. If someone gives to wrap an audio vehicle, the party says okay. Utku has no news, no contact. But the man said, 'Father, they told me, the CHP members will win, play for them. I said I always do it for AKP members, let me do it for CHP members a little, let them give me a tender.' This statement of his was not accepted. The man tells the lie on TRT1, I correct it on Halk TV."

STREET INVESTIGATION AGAINST ÖZGÜR ÖZEL

He said that the AKP defines the space for the opposition. Stating that speaking in Europe is not complaining to foreigners, Özel said, "I am the vice president there. You staged a coup against the country's next presidential candidate. And I won't tell this? What nonsense?! I am doing it. In this style of politics, there is no politics within the boundaries drawn by the AKP. They also banned demonstrations and marches. And I called. Yes, I said I am making a street call. There is no other way to fight them. If you say I will hold a rally on the day permission comes, they will eat you up. There are many examples in the past. They attacked me at a martyr's funeral. The AKP brought the paper, saying we will condemn it together. We won the district where that mosque is with 60 percent. Since that day, I have not shared the AKP's sin under an A4 paper," he said, conveying that they will proceed as they determine in politics.

Saying that they gathered 115 thousand people in Saraçhane even when ferries, trams, and buses were canceled on the night of March 19, Özgür said, "I know the day I will call to the street. He was saluting one of the squares they mentioned in Egypt (with Rabia). Did you become friends with Sisi, who staged a coup against Morsi, or not? He is telling me fairy tales. I found it necessary, and I called to the street. They repelled the trustee. My brother, the FETÖ members you fed and fattened were staging a coup, I stood by you. I am not a man of the coup idea, but we saw Erdoğan," he said.

Özel said, "If I said let's make a legal regulation so that Ekrem İmamoğlu is not tried, that would be running away. I say broadcast it on TRT. The person watching on TRT thinks the land was sold for 1/20th of its value. If he turned and listened to us, then it was paid off in 10 years with a loan. What does the prosecutor who hears this do? 'Let's skip this,' he says," he said, announcing his demand for retrials to be broadcast live.

HOW DID THE INVESTIGATION OPENED AGAINST TUNÇ SOYER BEGIN?

The former mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (İzBB), Tunç Soyer, was arrested recently. Özgür Özel responded to the allegations that the investigation was initiated as a result of the complaint of the current İzBB Mayor Cemil Tugay.

"There is an investigation that started in July 2023. But there is an internal auditor report following this. As far as Mr. Cemil explained and as I understand it, the Court of Accounts (Sayıştay) conducted an audit. After the Court of Accounts audit, it said, 'Assign an internal auditor here.' They assigned one. Before the internal auditor's report was even submitted for mayoral approval, the Court of Accounts said, 'Give that report to me too.' After that, that report went to the prosecutor's office. Because it was not written addressed to him, he requested it again.

As a public official, when a prosecutor, inspector, or Court of Accounts auditor requests a document, there is no such thing as not giving it. I mean, if you do such a thing, you are subjected to proceedings for neglect of duty, abuse of office, and causing damage to public property. So, this is a legal obligation here. So, there could be no discretion in this matter regarding an accounting. Such an issue does not arise from political hostility."

Özgür Özel spoke on the following topics in the continuation of the broadcast:

“Now they blew that business about Ümit Bey a little out of proportion. They blew it out of proportion in this respect: we held rallies, and of course, we mentioned Ümit Bey's name at every rally. Because the chairman of a political party is entrusted to the chairmen of other parties, that is his right. If someone, let's not say Mr. Tayyip now, when he becomes president, if they take any chairman, a chairman from the parties close to the government, I would oppose that too. I would say, 'This is a wrong thing.' This is the truth. When there was a discussion about a caricature in Leman Magazine in those days regarding our rally, they made a risk assessment, an intelligence assessment, and said, 'We will not participate.' They made a written statement. There were very harsh criticisms against them there too, like 'He stood by you while you were inside.' I am not someone who harbors that feeling. First of all, we are separate political parties. Even if we think exactly the same, even if we evaluate the risk the same, Ümit Bey was thrown inside suddenly due to one or two tweets he sent in the past, one or two words he said, in moments of crisis. I think he has the right to blow on the yogurt, he lay inside for five or six months for no reason, due to one or two sentences he established on a crisis-filled Kayseri night. Therefore, with a written statement, he said, 'We are not coming there,' and we met this with understanding. Then, when this happened to us, when the friends did a telephone diplomacy and said, 'We would like to come for a visit,' we said, 'With our heads,' and they were the first to come on Sunday. I also cared a lot about this part of the business. We had an unpleasant situation on Saturday. On Sunday morning, the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi), and in the afternoon, the DEM Party came to the CHP. This is an important thing. It is an important thing in this respect. In the rallies, while we were protecting the rights of both the esteemed chairman of the Victory Party and Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ. Because some people take their political rivals and lock them inside. When you rejoice while he locks his, and he rejoices while he locks yours, the same person always rejoices. Everyone is a victim. Even if there is very harsh political competition and irreconcilable opposites there, it is important for the opposition to defend itself against those who do this to it instead of dealing with each other. I am not saying that the Victory Party and DEM should walk arm in arm and do something. Of course, they won't. It is also very understandable. The fact that both parties are coming to offer condolences to us on Sunday, expressing their sadness, shows that the relationships established in the opposition and the relationships the opposition has established with each other are sincere. This does not necessarily require Zafer and DEM to establish a relationship. But this shows that the opposition in Turkey has crossed a threshold. I am not saying, 'All the opposition has united, we are all together, whatever. We will be together in everything.' But a threshold has been crossed. Seeing who the ones who create the main grievances are and being able to stand against them where necessary, when necessary. I think this is important.”

“NO RESPONSE CAME FROM SOYLU OR THE OTHERS EITHER”

(Regarding the statements of DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan and the developing process) “The trustee municipality reminder is very valuable in this respect. They say things like '24 thousand lira food bill' to our Abdurrahman Tutdere. Just as the Mardin trustee municipality was passing by on the road... You remember the video too. The trustee turns to Süleyman Soylu and says, 'Let's take a look.' You think he gifted a rosary there. He passed a 36 thousand lira bill from the back, five years ago, and that trustee also did it to the Vice President, he did it to I don't know who. With this order, a rosary for 36 thousand lira for Süleyman Soylu, a something for I don't know what. I said them all then, no answer came from Süleyman Soylu or any of them. Later, it was proven by the Court of Accounts reports. In the later period, there was something like not giving a task, as I remember. Even the trustees, even the AKP's trustees, asked for 1.5 times the accusation thrown at Abdurrahman with a rosary, to have Abdurrahman's poor person's food money closed, which is understood as if someone else did it. The dirtiest municipal administrations are the trustees and some municipalities managed by the AKP. Especially Mansur Yavaş, he brought out 97 files regarding the period before him, regarding Melih Gökçek. He entered by sliding like this, he came running. Like they slide into the middle in a football match. He came, Süleyman Soylu had the files seized. They said, 'We will look at these,' and they didn't give those files. 32 files in Istanbul are the same way. Unbelievable corruption files belong to the AKP period, they are closed. It is in the process of being invented or slandered because no corruption was found directed at ours. This is the first one. DEM's stance here is valuable. The Republican People's Party's historical stance is clear. For a while, something incomprehensible happened. While one of our Party Assembly members was speaking on television, a young friend from the MHP said, 'Oh sir, I am sending this tweet with the knowledge of Mr. Devlet. We will not talk to the CHP again. They cannot say Turkey without terror.' I turned and looked, what did Ali Haydar Fırat say? Then I said, 'Don't be sad at all, they had to fight with us. They chose you as a sacrifice. There is nothing in what you said.' Then I said, 'We want a Turkey without terror, but we also want a democratic Turkey.'"

“THE OPPOSITE MEANS DESTROYING OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE”

“We are doing what falls to us sincerely in that regard. Because if the terrorist organization is going to lay down its arms, am I going to say 'Don't lay them down'? I would be the biggest supporter of this. The moment the guns go silent in Turkey, both martyrs will not come, and tears between Kurd and Turk will end, blood will end, everything will end. And we will spend the money we spend there on the nation. I am the ruling party of the future, that is, in six months or a year, at most two years later. I will channel the money flowing into that terror to the laborers, I will channel it to the retirees. There is nothing more valuable than this. Also, I would like to say this on this side of the business. 100 years ago, this country was saved together with Kurds and Turks, in peace and togetherness, arm in arm. As we always say, 'Our grandfathers are lying side by side in Çanakkale.' 100 years later, if Turkey overcomes this issue, gets rid of this terror problem, and evaluates an opportunity where Kurd and Turk are arm in arm, Alevi and Sunni are arm in arm... The second quarter of the 21st century is beginning; artificial intelligence, whatever, if this train is missed, it will not be caught again. We caught the disadvantage of the Ottoman Empire bringing the printing press late and some deficiencies in the First and Second World Wars when the developed ones destroyed each other, and we especially fought our War of Independence, but we caught it from the edge by not entering the Second World War, we caught the era from the tip. We are behind it, but still a 'developing country' or something. This time, Turkey is in such a place, we were caught so badly... If it doesn't catch the era, if it misses these three-five years from here on, it will be like this: Countries that rule the world and countries that are ruled, that serve them. We could be left among the third-class countries - other than the definition of a third-world country - third, fourth-class countries... poor countries that serve the countries that rule the world, produce food for them, produce services for them, produce cheap clothing for them. This means destroying the future of the child of the Kurd, the Turk, the Laz, the Circassian, the Alevi, and the Sunni. If we evaluate this opportunity, the European Union is already supporting the CHP's vision. If we make the Republic of Turkey a full member of the European Union and do everything we missed, all of our children's futures will be saved. I am excited about this.”

“THE STATE MUST BE TALKING TO ALL PARTIES”

(PKK will lay down arms in Sulaymaniyah) “There is no development on that yet. I have received information from all authorized bodies. If it were explained as a state project and something happened with the participation of all parties, which I wish a Parliamentary Commission were established. But at the moment, the organization of that work is a bit vague. That's why we don't have a decision made on that matter at the moment. All parties, that is, I wish a Parliamentary Commission had been formed, the commission would have sent an observer delegation from within itself there, it would have been good. Other than that, invitations are being made to the parties now, but... (It came to you.) It came, but it came to us from DEM. The state must be involved in this organization and must be clearly talking to all parties. In that process, we will most likely not be there. But this does not mean that we do not support the process. (An invitation came, but the CHP will not be there.) Yes. A simultaneous invitation to the AK Party, MHP, and other parties, and a state organization, guarantee... That is, you don't know what that ceremony there is pregnant with. In that respect, for now. But if the Parliamentary Commission had been formed and it had been done by its hand, it would have been good. We will not sabotage the process. We support the burning and laying down of arms. We are not against the process, but we are facing a timing and management problem.”

“THIS IS ALSO A COUP AGAINST THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO RECEIVE NEWS”

(Regarding the stay of execution decision taken regarding the screen blackout on Halk TV) I had come for solidarity, and we were very pleased with the stay of execution. But we also express our support for Sözcü. And for Tele1. I am essentially saying that the target here is neither the bosses nor you; the target is the citizen's access to real news, accurate news, honest news... And we said a little while ago. That is, a person watches on TRT, and it was an intervention made to the public's right to receive news, to the place where they can look and say, 'What is the other side saying?', where they can listen to the truth. This is also a coup. That is, in the end, to the public's right to receive news, to accurate news... Just think, if the coup plotters had seized all the televisions on the night of July 15 and opened only FETÖ's televisions, what would have happened? On one hand, there would be false-wrong information. If you weren't there during this March 19 coup process, where would we have told our troubles? In that respect, this is very critical and very important. The stay of execution is very correct, and we hope that there will be no such penalties from now on. And all decisions will return in your favor from the judiciary. (If you have a final word?) The Republican People's Party is in unity and solidarity. Today, our parliamentary group held a magnificent meeting with full consensus. With all our organs, we are standing tall in unity and solidarity against the biggest attack made on the party's corporate identity in this history, and we are waging a great struggle. We are determined to repel this coup. This tired government, this elderly government is not in Turkey's tomorrows. There is a Republican People's Party that will pave the way for the future of the youth, make Turkey a member of the European Union, and win a visa-free and ban-free Turkey for the youth."