Özgür Özel: 'We will not abolish YÖK, we will destroy it'
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, speaking at a panel in Eskişehir regarding the issue of autonomy in universities, stated, "It would be a lie to say we will abolish YÖK; we are coming to destroy YÖK."
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Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the panel titled "Every Youth's Right: A Qualified, Autonomous, Democratic, and Livable University" held in Eskişehir. Özel harshly criticized the current system of appointing rectors at universities.
Özel stated, "Trustee rectors are appointed to replace those whose terms have expired at universities, and administration is carried out in this manner."
AYM DECISION NOT FOLLOWED
Reminding the audience of the Constitutional Court's (AYM) decision on June 4, 2024, which annulled the authority to appoint rectors, Özel noted that the decision has not been implemented by the Presidency.
Özel said, "You have torn out that page. Tomorrow, someone will discard the powers of Parliament, and another will discard the powers of the President. When the Constitution disappears, the state also disappears. Then looting begins, tyranny begins."
The CHP leader stated that they expect the Constitutional Court to urgently issue a stay of execution. Noting that the court has not used this authority in recent years, Özel said, "That is why the constitution is suspended in this country. The articles that Tayyip Erdoğan complies with are followed, and those he does not are ignored."
"WE ARE AT THE SAME POINT AS NORTH KOREA"
Özel emphasized that Turkey ranks in the lowest tier in academic freedom rankings. Referring to the Academic Freedom Index data, the CHP leader stated, "In terms of university autonomy, we are at the same point as North Korea, South Sudan, Qatar, and Iran."
"WE WILL DESTROY YÖK"
Explaining his plans regarding the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Özgür Özel argued that the institution should be rendered dysfunctional rather than just abolished.
Özel said, "Everyone said they would abolish YÖK, but no one did. We will not abolish it; we will destroy it. Because when you abolish something, you have to put something else in its place. We will destroy YÖK and remove all obstacles to the autonomy and freedom of the academy."