Remarkable remarks from Ümit Özdağ on CHP and Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı! 'We get angry, but...'

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ made statements regarding the current agenda.

Responding to questions from Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk, Özdağ touched upon the operations targeting the CHP. Stating that he believes the rhetoric that "there will be no elections" is being brought to the agenda by the government, Özdağ noted the following:

"Behind this lies an effort to break the opposition's determination for elections and to drag opposition voters into disbelief. This has become so widespread that a foreign newspaper's Turkey representative asked me, 'Will there be elections in Turkey?' There must be elections in Turkey. Because the only source of legitimacy for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the holding of elections in one way or another. Neither Erdoğan nor any authoritarian leader anywhere in the world, no matter how authoritarian they are, will give this up."

AKP'S FEAR OF LOSING

Emphasizing that the CHP was unsuccessful in the June 2015 elections and the 2019 and 2024 local elections despite all the state's resources, Özdağ said:

"Now, whether the AKP holds the upcoming general election in 2026-27 or even 2028, it is rapidly approaching a loss. Since Erdoğan knows this, he is trying to develop strategies to prevent the opposition from coming to power. One of these is to discourage opposition voters from the ballot box by establishing the perception that 'there will be no elections.' Looking at today's Turkey, an election does not seem likely in 2026, but if extraordinary conditions occur, of course, Turkey could suddenly slide into an election atmosphere. However, as of today, I do not believe an election is on the agenda."

EFFORTS TO DRAW THE OPPOSITION TO THE STREETS

Özdağ stated that he believes the government is consciously trying to draw the opposition to the streets:

"I think the government is provoking the opposition to consciously draw them to the streets. Therefore, I see it as a necessity for the Turkish people to act with great common sense and patience. This does not mean that legitimate demonstrations, protests, and marches should not be held. However, this should never be in a way that creates the ground for conflict that some circles desire."

"I DID NOT AGREE TO MEET WITH A CHP DEPUTY"

Stating that he was in more intense contact with the CHP leadership and deputies than ever before during his time in prison, Özdağ spoke as follows:

"I thank everyone who came to visit and supported me. However, I did not agree to meet with one CHP deputy who came to visit me. In fact, the prison guards had even made a bet among themselves, saying, 'The Chairman will not agree to meet with this person'."

Özdağ did not disclose the name of the CHP deputy in question to the public.

ATTEMPTS TO FRAGMENT THE CHP

Recalling pro-government journalist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı's past comments on the CHP, Özdağ noted:

"Now we get angry at Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, but I think Rasim should be taken very seriously. Because what he says often turns out to be very true. He shares what he knows with the public in advance. For example, in March, he said that 'the CHP is facing a state operation' and what would happen. Since then, he continues to say it today as well. This shows that there is a government operation against the CHP, and its goal is not democracy, human rights violations, or corruption in elections, but on the contrary, to divide and fragment the CHP. This is what the CHP is experiencing now. Frankly, attempts are being made to fragment the CHP. The goal is to weaken the CHP. Since Erdoğan cannot get elected himself, he is implementing a strategy to pave the way for his election by fragmenting the opposition."