Özgür Özel reveals roadmap for a new party for the first time! What will he do if there is a snap election?

CHP’s elected Chairman Özgür Özel made statements regarding the current agenda.

Speaking to Cumhuriyet, Özel delivered important messages regarding the absolute nullity crisis in the CHP and the scenario of a new party.

Stating that the current administration in the CHP has not taken the necessary steps against the demands for an extraordinary grand assembly, Özel emphasized that the 833 delegate signatures they collected have not been processed. Arguing that the convening of the grand assembly is being delayed, Özel also announced that they will apply to the court to resolve the issue.

"KEMAL BEY ASKS 'IS IT BETTER IF A TRUSTEE IS APPOINTED?' BY GOD, IT IS BETTER"

In his speech, Özel also responded to the remark by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the CHP Chairmanship by a court decision, asking, "Is it better if a trustee is appointed?"

Stating that if a trustee is appointed to the party, a congress will be held within 40 days, Özel said the following:

“There is an effort to govern without being fully elected and to remain in power through a formal election. We applied with 833 delegate signatures. They are on Kemal Bey’s desk, but he is not doing what is necessary.

We will apply to the court. In this case, the appointment of a trustee for the congress is in question. Kemal Bey asks, “Is it better if a trustee is appointed?” By God, it is better.

Because the scope of authority is clear. He holds a congress within 40 days, he cannot hire or appoint staff. He makes mandatory expenditures. He cannot buy or sell property. It is that limited.

Now we are facing a situation where people are buying, selling, hitting, breaking, firing 25-year staff members, and entering the party with police.”

In the interview, Özel also answered questions about the new party. Stating that preparations for a new party have begun, Özel noted that he is considering a delegation of 30 people, without famous names, to establish the new party in the first phase. The CHP leader said, “Perhaps the party will be established beforehand and gain some ground. Then we will join the party and hold its first grand assembly.”

The relevant part of the interview is as follows:

- Some names within the new party say “It should be established as soon as possible,” while others say “Let’s stay here and fight.” How do you view the issue of a new party?

“After the nullity decision, when we left the party and started our march, 90 percent of the first words I heard were “Don’t leave the party to them.” Then this ratio changed. At one point it came to 50-50. Now I hear the expectation and urgency regarding a new party. There is talk of a new party at around 70 percent in the polls. In the field, my own measurement has turned to 80 to 20.

As long as the signatures in hand are not processed and it turns into a deaf wall, I see that the expectation for a new party is strengthening in the field. We are making preparations for this. Because from today to tomorrow; it needs to have a charter, a program, goals, a name, and a logo. Some of our friends are working on this issue. All polls show that the CHP is crashing headlong while remaining under the nullity administration. For this, some preparations need to be made. Basically, there is a new party establishment process. If we leave the CHP, I will be the chairman of the newly established party; we will establish a new party from scratch. We will complete the organization of that party and make it eligible to enter the election. The legitimate concern here is, “What will happen if there is a snap election?” For that, one needs to have an existing party that is eligible to enter the election ready. We will not move to that party. We will keep an alternative ready where friends who have served in the party in the past and are not currently in active politics are the chairman and administrators, and where we will all participate in a snap election. But this is for a disaster scenario.

The other is; establishing a party from scratch and being there. At the point where the “feeling of fighting to the end in the party” and the “new party as soon as possible” feeling need to be managed together, our friends are establishing the new party on one hand. Perhaps the party is established beforehand and gains some ground. Participation will come later. We will join the party and hold its first grand assembly. It is not that we are doing nothing right now. A group of our friends is carrying out the new party establishment process. As soon as we see that it is not possible for us to stay in the CHP, we will move to the established new party and move forward there.”

- So, will a party be established without you?

“Well, there are already 30 founding board members. There is no chairman-administrator distinction there. I am not needed there anyway. It is even said that “There will be surprise names on the founding board.” My thought is that there should be no surprises. In fact, that there should be no one familiar. They will be technical, lawyer-weighted, and will quickly implement the establishment processes. In other words, we are thinking of the establishment being done in a technical sense. Then, if we are going to join, that participation will be politically significant... I mean, there is no point in looking at the mandatory 30 people. Let lawyers and agile friends get it ready there technically. Then, if we are going to go, we can join the party together with hundreds of thousands of volunteer founders.”