Özgür Özel: The issue is not between those elected by nullity

Özgür Özel, who was removed from the CHP Chairmanship by a decision of absolute nullity, said, "I swear on my honor and dignity, this issue is not between me and Mr. Kemal.

It is not between those elected by nullity. This issue is between the aunt in the greenhouse and Tayyip Erdoğan. I am stating our most important promise for when we are in power. In our government, we will not provide guarantees for the future of the wealthy, but to ensure a living wage for retirees and laborers, we will first bring the guarantee of elections," he said.

In his speech at the Parliament, Özgür Özel recounted his conversation with agricultural workers in Çavdır. In his speech, he stated that a 65-year-old aunt had to work at that age to take care of her daughter, and that this was the real problem in this system. Özel used the expressions, "When children grew up and parents retired, children used to take care of their mothers and fathers. Now, for their children who cannot make ends meet, mothers and fathers work twice a day in their retirement; one is ashamed to even say it."

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

"I went to a tomato greenhouse in Çavdır. We were drinking tea with the female workers. An aunt said she was 65 years old, had her own garden, woke up at 4 AM, worked for 8 hours in the greenhouse, and then went to work in her own garden, and that she received 960 TL in daily wages.

She said she sent this 960 TL she earned to her daughter in Antalya, who is struggling to educate her grandchildren and pay her rent. When children grew up and parents retired, children used to take care of their mothers and fathers. Now, for their children who cannot make ends meet, mothers and fathers work twice a day in their retirement; one is ashamed to even say it.

Retiree organizations have come out and are asking for a humane wage; none of our hearts can bear the shame in this sentence, the disgrace in this sentence.

They are also conducting an operation against the Republican People's Party, which changes this system, throws a wrench in the works of this system, and says we will turn it upside down. I swear on my honor and dignity, this issue is not between me and Mr. Kemal. It is not between those elected by nullity. This issue is between the aunt in the greenhouse and Tayyip Erdoğan. I am stating our most important promise for when we are in power. In our government, we will not provide guarantees for the future of the wealthy, but to ensure a living wage for retirees and laborers, we will first bring the guarantee of elections."