CHP's Murat Bakan speaks to 12punto: 'Ekrem Bey is not a small morsel the government can swallow'

Beste ÇELİK-12punto.com.tr /EXCLUSIVE

Following the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and the appointment of a trustee in his place, the Republican People's Party (CHP) decided to hold its camp, originally planned for Antalya, in Istanbul.

Ahead of the CHP's TBMM Group Work and Evaluation Meeting to be held between November 1-3, CHP Deputy Chairman responsible for the Ministry of Interior, Murat Bakan, spoke to 12punto.

Emphasizing that there is no legal process behind Ahmet Özer's arrest, Bakan said, "Politics is very clearly being designed through the judiciary. When you look at the grounds for arrest, especially in the referral document for arrest, we see it. All of the allegations are baseless."

Pointing out that recent developments are a political process directed at the CHP, Bakan stated, "Ekrem Bey gave a very ambitious speech on October 29. Ekrem Bey is one of the most important actors in Turkish politics. He has won 3 elections against this government. In all 3 elections, he has conducted a successful campaign despite all the power of the government."

Bakan continued as follows:

"Ekrem Bey is currently one of the two strongest actors mentioned for the Presidential candidacy. Therefore, I think this is a political move aimed at wearing Ekrem Bey down, and in my opinion, aimed at reaching him as well.

They gave signs of this before. The President clearly stated in his group speech the day before that this decision was a political decision. It should be evaluated in this way."

Drawing attention to the call made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli for the terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan, Bakan said, "We evaluate the fact that Ahmet Özer was detained in an ugly dawn operation for a reason that could not possibly be a justification, following such a marginal proposal, in this way."

Bakan continued his words as follows:

"Ekrem Bey also gave a very effective speech at the rally in Esenyurt after Ahmet Özer's arrest. Therefore, they might be measuring the reaction we give to the Esenyurt Mayor. The government has such a method.

We received rumors that a judicial process would begin after his speech in Esenyurt. We see all of these as a product of efforts to push a strong actor like Ekrem Bey out of politics through legal means."

"EKREM BEY IS NOT A SMALL MORSEL THE GOVERNMENT CAN SWALLOW"

Saying "Anything can happen. We don't know that" regarding the possibility of a new wave of trustees, Bakan emphasized that the AKP government wants to extend the process to Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Bakan spoke as follows:

"It is clear that there is a process that wants to reach Ekrem Bey. They are making this felt. Ekrem Bey is not a small morsel the government can swallow. Ekrem Bey is one of the politicians who shapes Turkish politics.

I don't think they can create that effect at all. We won't allow it. The people of Turkey won't allow it either. Ekrem Bey is growing steadily. Every step they take outside of politics makes Ekrem Bey grow even larger.

There will not be a process that can reach Ekrem Bey. Not only the CHP, but all opposition voters in Turkey will rally around Ekrem Bey. They would both be taking a step that should not be taken for Turkish politics, and they would be making Ekrem Bey grow even larger."