Özgür Özel: You are the ones who have severed Turkey from Europe, driven away foreign investors, and committed betrayal

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel lashed out at the government, stating, "If there is a betrayal of this nation, it is you who have impoverished so many people in just 3 days, sent interest rates skyrocketing, caused foreign exchange rates to soar, severed Turkey from Europe, and driven away foreign investors who ask, 'If even a diploma has no guarantee, how can I build a factory there?' You are the ones who have betrayed this country." Stating that the government accuses the CHP of complaining about Turkey to the world and labels this as treason, Özel said, "Those who have filled their quota for betrayal should not even attempt to define treason for us. We have long left behind the kind of politics that fears such words and takes a step back."

Here are the highlights from Özel's statements:

"On the evening of July 15, FETÖ attempted a coup, and we all stood against it together. The next morning, Erdoğan asked for our support, saying, 'Your ties in the world are strong; let us explain our troubles to the world together. Announce this coup attempt to the world.'

The victim of that day has become the oppressor of today and is attempting a coup; the March 19 coup attempt is being suppressed by 15 million people who poured into the streets on March 23. The world is also asking, 'What is happening in Turkey?' They have imprisoned İmamoğlu, who was elected with over 50 percent of the vote just 10 months ago in Turkey's most well-known metropolis, Istanbul. They are asking what is happening.

"ARE WE NOT GOING TO EXPLAIN THE PLOT THAT WAS CONCOCTED?"

Are we not going to explain the plot that was concocted? Are we not going to explain that a coup has been staged against the national will? Are we not going to say that Erdoğan, who went to prison as a victim 30 years ago from Saraçhane, is now putting the person elected there into prison as the oppressor of this place? Are we not going to explain the empty indictments, the empty MASAK reports, and the plot built on bribery lies over financial matters?

"IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE CRITERIA"

Especially while we were defending the GRECO (Group of States against Corruption of the Council of Europe) criteria and saying yes to the law on political ethics, and while Erdoğan had said, 'If there is a law on political ethics, we won't be able to find a provincial or district head,' and we were defending these while Erdoğan was running away from the political ethics law, and we lost visa liberalization because there is no free movement in the EU—is the briber, the head who acts against the political ethics law, now clean just because they are with us? There is a stain on the milk; there are no stains on our mayors, but if the AK Party thinks it is hiding the dirt and acts this comfortably, our political counterparts in the world know. They also know that Turkey does not have the right to free movement in Europe because Erdoğan does not comply with the GRECO criteria, which demand transparent political financing and structures.

"IF THE MONOPOLY ON DECLARING TRAITORS HAS BEEN LEFT TO YOU, THEN ALAS"

I thank our esteemed friends who came here to show solidarity against the coup attempt. Sir, 'If you say this abroad, we will label you a traitor...' If the monopoly on declaring traitors has been left to you, then alas, alas, alas... If there is a betrayal of this nation, it is you who have impoverished so many people in just 3 days, sent interest rates skyrocketing, caused foreign exchange rates to soar, severed Turkey from Europe, and driven away foreign investors who ask, 'If even a diploma has no guarantee, how can I build a factory there?' You are the ones who have betrayed this country.

"THOSE WHO HAVE FILLED THEIR QUOTA FOR BETRAYAL SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO DEFINE TREASON FOR US"

It is us who say that there should be democracy in this country, that investment should come, that young people should travel without visas, that businessmen should make much better investments and receive investments, and that the future of this country should be bright. Therefore, those who have filled their quota for betrayal should not even attempt to define treason for us by saying we are complaining about Turkey abroad. We have long left behind the kind of politics that fears such words and takes a step back."