Remarkable remarks from Ümit Özdağ on Osman Kavala: 'I was horrified...'

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, who was released after spending 149 days in Silivri Prison, answered questions from İpek Özbey on Sözcü TV.

Criticizing the agenda regarding a new constitution, Özdağ said, "They are talking about a new constitution. It is not credible at all to say that we should have a more democratic constitution after failing to grant or allow the opposition to exercise their rights under the current constitution and suspending legal rights."

"THE PROCESS IS FACING SERIOUS PROBLEMS"

Evaluating the new resolution process, Özdağ emphasized that the current deadlock did not stem from their party or the opposition, pointing to the actors at the core of the process by saying, "I think this process is experiencing great difficulty. But this difficulty did not stem from my opposition. It did not stem from the Zafer Party either..."

Regarding the PKK's stance, Özdağ issued the following warning: "I maintain that they should not be engaged with at all unless the PKK admits it has been defeated and says, 'Turkey has defeated me and I have been vanquished.'"

"WE CANNOT THINK OF THE PKK SEPARATE FROM THE KCK"

Touching upon Öcalan's call and the PKK's statement on dissolution, Özdağ pointed out that these statements must be analyzed correctly and stated the following:

"The text from the PKK and Abdullah Öcalan must be read correctly... The PKK dissolving itself does not mean that the PYD, the KCK, and the Iranian branch of the PCK will dissolve. However, the government's statements suggest that these should also dissolve, but that has no basis in reality."

"THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH IS NOT RESONATING WITH VOTERS"

Arguing that a second peace process is harming the ruling bloc, Özdağ stated, "You conduct systematic propaganda for ten years, you indoctrinate your own base, and then suddenly, without any intellectual preparation, you say, 'Come on, we are now friends with the PKK.' This cannot happen. It is not politically possible. It is not psychologically possible," asserting that the government is at odds with its own voters.

"I HAD A PERSONAL BOND WITH BAHÇELİ, I FELT SAD"

Özdağ's response to a question regarding the term "leader" used by Devlet Bahçeli for terrorist ringleader Abdullah Öcalan drew attention:

"When I first heard it, I tried to find an explanation for myself... For academics from Gazi University, Devlet Bahçeli is 'Brother Devlet.' And I felt sad for him."

"I FIND THE CALL FOR THE UNITY OF NATIONALISTS VALUABLE"

Responding positively to the call for "nationalists to unite" made by İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, Özdağ said, "I find the call made by Mr. Müsavat very valuable... It is necessary to stand together to ensure the Republic of Turkey continues its existence into the future, strengthened as a state of law."

"I WAS HORRIFIED WHEN I READ THE OSMAN KAVALA CASE FILE"

Özdağ, who shared the same environment as Osman Kavala during his time in Silivri Prison, described his observations with the following words:

"Osman Bey and I have looked at life very differently, and we still do. But we had the opportunity to encounter each other many times there... However, when I read the case file, I was horrified... This is not something legal; this is something political."

Özdağ also emphasized a similar situation regarding Can Atalay, drawing attention to the binding nature of the Constitutional Court's decision.

"OUR PARTY'S VOTE HAS INCREASED"

Stating that his party experienced a rise in public support while he was in prison, Özdağ said, without sharing the survey results, "I requested it from my friends three times while I was inside. They conducted research... and I know it is good."

"THERE IS INTENSE PRESSURE ON THE CHP"

Touching upon the operations targeting the Republican People's Party (CHP), Özdağ stated that the detention of İmamoğlu and the steps taken toward the party congress are elements of pressure, adding, "The CHP is facing very heavy pressure... I would like to state that the performance shown by Mr. Özgür Özel is an impressive one."