Referendum call from Özgür Özel to Erdoğan! 'If they have the courage, let them bring the ballot box'

Participating in the May Day celebrations in Kartal, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated, "The primary goal of all laborers should be Taksim. In the coming years, demands must be unified, the goal must be singular, and Taksim must be reclaimed from this oppressive regime." Addressing AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding his statements on Kanal İstanbul, Özel said, "Put the ballot box in Istanbul, let's vote on Kanal İstanbul; you defend Kanal İstanbul, we will defend Istanbul."

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel attended the May Day celebrations in Kartal and Kadıköy.

Speaking to journalists, Özel said regarding the detentions in Şişli that members of parliament were present in the area.

"The primary goal of all laborers should be Taksim," said Özel, adding, "In the coming years, demands must be unified, the goal must be singular, and Taksim must be reclaimed from this oppressive regime."

Özel continued as follows:

"We say this to the government that thinks it holds the title deed to the square; if the squares in a country are free, there is democracy in that country. If it is imprisoned and under blockade like Taksim, there is autocracy in that country.

"When looking at Taksim, the government's lack of self-confidence is visible. Strong governments do not ban squares; their knees are shaking, and they take their frustrations out on empty squares."

REACTION TO Kanal İstanbul

Moving to Kadıköy after Kartal, Özel said in his speech there, "If labor is free in a country, that country is free. If the obstacles to organizing are removed and the barriers in front of laborers are lifted, that country is free and is moving toward collective prosperity."

"Today in Turkey, there are both obstacles to organizing and Istanbul's symbolic square, Taksim, is under blockade," said Özel, continuing:

"Unions are in Kadıköy today after many years, but they say the primary goal is Taksim. We are fighting for the day when Taksim will be liberated as a square of freedom, as a square of labor. Today, the ban and blockade in Taksim show the lack of self-confidence of the government in this country."

Reacting to the statement by Minister of Transport Abdulkadir Uraloğlu that "We will definitely build Kanal İstanbul," Özel noted the following:

"Just 1-2 days ago, Murat Kurum said 'it is not on our agenda,' but then today the Minister of Transport said 'it is, it never left our agenda, we will do it.' The Minister of Transport is telling the truth. Together with the President, they toured the Kanal İstanbul route by helicopter on February 27th and talked about it. Despite being there, Murat Kurum denying this is because he is afraid of the public's reaction."

In the continuation of his speech, Özel addressed AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating, "I challenge you. Put the ballot box in Istanbul, let's vote on Kanal İstanbul; you defend Kanal İstanbul, we will defend Istanbul. Let's see who will emerge from this referendum. If they have the courage, let them bring the ballot box."