Striking comments from Özgür Özel on the Presidential elections: 'If it had been İmamoğlu or Yavaş'

Journalist Fatih Altaylı shared the details of his meeting with CHP Chairman Özgür Özel in his column today.

Altaylı wrote that Özel said, "If Ekrem İmamoğlu or Mansur Yavaş had been the candidates, Erdoğan would not be sitting in the Presidential seat right now."

RESPONSE FROM ÖZEL TO THE 'AKP SPOKESPERSON' REMARK

In response to the criticism from Altaylı regarding him being an "AKP spokesperson" following his meeting with AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel replied: “I have not become an AKP spokesperson or anything of the sort. I cannot have an approach of becoming complicit in the 22 years of accumulated sins and crimes committed by the AKP as they are on their way out.

Today, we are Turkey's largest party, the 1st party. We hold the majority of the municipalities. I met with the President both to convey the problems of this large majority and to discuss the work of our municipalities that is being obstructed by the government.

We need to talk to overcome certain problems. I need to ensure that the services of our municipalities are not obstructed. The fact that we are talking does not mean we share the same ideas.”

“WE HAVE IDEAS, WE HAVE SOLUTIONS”

Regarding the idea of meeting with Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Özel stated: “For years, the biggest accusation against the CHP has been a smear campaign claiming that they talk and criticize but do not get things done. They always criticize but never say how it should be done.

Now we are breaking this. The municipalities have already broken it with their services. But we need to go further. We need to prove, especially to young voters, that this is not the case and that the CHP is Turkey's most constructive party. Young voters see this, but we need to explain it even more strongly.

We have ideas, we have solutions, and we need to show that we do not shy away from taking responsibility. We must prove that the CHP can solve Turkey's problems.”

“US WANTING IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING”

Regarding the criticisms following his statement that they do not have a demand for early elections, Özel noted the following:

“We said that local elections and general elections should not be confused, and we asked for votes from the electorate on that basis. Us wanting an early election without it turning into a social demand does not mean anything. We do not have such a majority in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), and mayors do not decide on early elections. An early election must be demanded in an alliance on the streets and in the TBMM. We are trying to build that. If an early election decision can be taken with 127 people in Parliament, let's take it tomorrow.”

“POLITICAL CONSPIRACY AGAINST İMAMOĞLU AND YAVAŞ”

Altaylı, who also wrote about the impressions he gained during his meeting with Özel, expressed the following:

"Özgür Özel has no intention of being a Presidential candidate. He does not want this issue to be discussed within the party either. He found Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy in the last election to be very wrong and shared this with him as well. He is clear enough to say, 'If Ekrem İmamoğlu or Mansur Yavaş had been the candidates, Erdoğan would not be sitting in the Presidential seat right now.'

He evaluates the last-minute nomination of İmamoğlu and Yavaş as Vice Presidents as a conspiracy against these two figures, saying, 'It was an operation to end their political futures as well, but it didn't work.' What I understand from Özgür Bey's approach is this: In the upcoming Presidential election, the CHP's presidential candidate will be either İmamoğlu or Mansur Yavaş. Perhaps both of them."