Özgür Özel's bridge ultimatum to President Erdoğan: 'I will get Turkey back on its feet'

Ataşehir became the 39th location in Istanbul and the 90th across Turkey for the "Defending the National Will" rallies, which began in March 2025 with the imprisonment of Presidential Candidate and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

CITIZENS IN THE SQUARE FOR THE 39TH TIME IN ISTANBUL

Citizens, undeterred by the intermittent snowfall, were seen filling the rally area in front of the Mozaik Bazaar in Ataşehir.

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS FROM ÖZGÜR ÖZEL IN ATAŞEHİR

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel began his speech by thanking the citizens who filled the square in Ataşehir for coming despite the cold.

Emphasizing that this was the 90th rally held since March 2025, Özel said, "We did not come to this square for a rally; we came to protest injustice, to resist, and to take action."

Stating that they have completed the district rallies in Istanbul, Özel said, "The struggle will never end," and added the following regarding the upcoming process:

"First in Istanbul's 3rd district, then in the 2nd, and then once more in the 1st district with major regional rallies; then, on the night connecting March 18 to March 19, we will all be in the squares and in action on the 'Anniversary of the Great Oppression'."

"The moral superiority is ours, the psychological superiority is ours, the energy of the majority is ours. We are right, we will win. They cannot cope with this moral superiority, which is why they are resorting to these methods," said Özgür Özel, addressing AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with these words:

"Look, we won the first election we entered. You also suffered a defeat for the first time. During the 47 years we lost, we didn't say anything to the nation, we didn't attempt a coup. But you lost one election and started acting like a sore loser. Now you have come out and are attacking the Republican People's Party from every angle, trying to win the election through a legal coup. Let me say this; politics is not done with lies, money, or billboards in Istanbul, or with banners in Hatay; it is done with organization and heart, it is done with heart!"

BRIDGE ULTIMATUM TO ERDOĞAN: 'I WILL GET TURKEY BACK ON ITS FEET'

Speaking about the AKP's plan to privatize bridges and highways, a party that has signed numerous privatization deals since coming to power in 2002, CHP Leader Özgür Özel said, "I am calling out to Erdoğan from here: My Istanbul organization is standing tall, Istanbul is standing tall! I will get Turkey back on its feet, I will not let you sell those bridges!"

"They are going to sell 2 bridges and 7 highways. These are highways built during the eras of the late Demirel, Ecevit, and Özal," said Özel, adding:

"Erdoğan tried to sell them 10 years ago too, and at that time he said, 'Selling them for less than 7 billion would be treason.' Now he is selling them for 3.5 billion. I'm not saying it, he is saying it himself. He is doubling the treason! He wants the 5-year revenue of these bridges. He will use that money to create his own 'election economy.' In return, others will collect the money from those bridges for 25 years. They are selling the goose that lays the golden eggs!"

Stating that according to public opinion research on the bridge sale, 60 percent of citizens were unaware of the privatization plan in question, Özel said, "As those who know this, we will explain it to those who do not. No one will be left who hasn't heard. This nation will stand against Erdoğan as a whole. Make sure everyone hears this!"

THANKS TO FORMER CHAIRMEN

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated that they have had the support of former chairmen in every rally they have organized so far and thanked Altan Öymen, Murat Karayalçın, and Hikmet Çetin.

İMAMOĞLU SPOKE FROM SILIVRI, WHERE HE HAS BEEN FOR 336 DAYS

İmamoğlu, who has been imprisoned in Marmara Prison in Silivri for exactly 336 days since March 23, 2025, addressed the citizens gathered in Ataşehir with a letter.

CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik read the letter written by İmamoğlu from Silivri to the citizens who gathered in the square despite the snowfall. (February 18, 2026)

In his letter, voiced by CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, İmamoğlu included the following:

“My dear fellow citizens, precious Istanbulites… Distinguished ladies, esteemed gentlemen, brave youth, smiling children… I embrace you all with longing, and I greet you with love and respect. I am glad you exist. I love you all very much. I heartfully thank my Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel, who works with heart and soul for Ataşehir, and all his colleagues. We are in the days when we are observing Ramadan, the sultan of 11 months. May the blessed Ramadan be auspicious for the entire Islamic world. Ramadan is a month of abundance and mercy. It leads people to feel for one another and stirs consciences. It is an occasion to review positions, status, and the state of having or not having. Ramadan is a very precious month of opportunity to feel equality and brotherhood. I hope that Ramadan is felt in its most powerful way, with all its spirituality.”

“WE ARE GIVING THE NATION'S MONEY TO THE NATION, WE ARE FIGHTING SO THAT NO ONE IS LEFT ALONE AND HELPLESS”

“Precious Ataşehir residents; since 2019, just as we have done all over Istanbul, we have been working in Ataşehir with the same spirit and the same energy. We are giving the nation's money to the nation, and we are fighting so that no one is left alone and helpless. In Ataşehir, we have brought our 4 'Yuvamız İstanbul' (Our Home Istanbul) nurseries to our children and their families to date. We have put our City Restaurant, Regional Employment Office, Integrated Health Center, and Esatpaşa Sports Facility at your service. We have provided unprecedented support to thousands of our families. We have provided scholarships and opportunities to our students and youth. We have carried out very large infrastructure investments. We opened the Bostancı-Dudullu Metro Line for service. We are moving the vegetable and fruit market in Ataşehir, which serves the Anatolian side, to Tuzla. We have reached the end of our work. We are mobilizing all our resources to put it into operation after March. When the market moves to Tuzla, traffic congestion in Ataşehir will decrease significantly.”

“THEY ARE AFRAID BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT I WILL WIN THE UPCOMING ELECTION TOO”

“While we were chasing more services, more actions, and larger investments, the government stopped everything and chased after blocking us. The operations and lawsuits constructed against us by a mind full of malice are a great political and legal tyranny, unprecedented in our history. As a result of this tyranny committed out of ambition for power, unfortunately, our nation is suffering the greatest loss. The cost of moving away from law and democracy with the March 19 coup has exceeded 250 billion dollars. Our nation has become even poorer, and unemployment has increased even more. Our citizens wake up every morning to a much more insecure and uncertain life. The only reason for all of this is the fear of losing an election. They are afraid because they see that I have won every election I have entered against them and that I will win the upcoming election as a presidential candidate.”

“FEAR IS OF NO USE TO THE INEVITABLE”

“Fear is of no use to the inevitable. They will not be able to escape the ballot box. They will kneel before the nation and before the national will. The rule of one person, one family, and a handful of people will end; the rule of the nation will begin. Turkey will now be governed by the mind and conscience of 86 million citizens. It will be governed with justice and merit. The 'era of me' will end, and the 'era of us' will begin. In this country, there will be no position greater than being a human, and no office higher than being a citizen. All doors of the state will open to justice and freedom. Everyone will rightfully receive the reward for their labor, initiative, and investment. We will share abundance, prosperity, and wealth like brothers. Everything will be very beautiful. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Silivri Dungeon.”