Breaking News: CHP leader Özgür Özel speaks at his party's parliamentary group meeting: Constitutions are made for everyone born, not for Erdoğan!

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel is speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting.

After his opening speech, Özel pinned a party badge on Sevinç Atabay, who resigned from the İYİ Party to join the CHP.

Our Chairman Özgür Özel is speaking at our party's parliamentary group meeting. https://t.co/meZ2rgeRyg

— CHP ???? (@herkesicinCHP) April 30, 2024

Highlights from Özel's speech are as follows;

"Over the weekend, following Ms. Meral Akşener's departure from her post in the İYİ Party, there was a farewell and a changing of the guard. I wish Ms. Meral health and happiness. Mr. Müsavat Dervişoğlu has been elected; I wish him the best of luck.

HE ANNOUNCED HIS MAY 1 MEETING WITH YERLİKAYA

Closing a square to May 1st does not mean that the government is successful; in fact, it shows they are not in control. They are in power, but by banning celebrations in that square, they are actually in a state of unnecessary anxiety, admitting in advance that they cannot ensure security. In democracies, this lack of self-confidence never bodes well for governments. That is why we were ready to take responsibility and requested that, by working together with the unions, celebrations in that square be permitted without anyone getting hurt. A week has passed; I called the Minister of Interior yesterday and expressed my request, my commitment, and the guarantee we placed on the matter. And I offered cooperation. He repeated that they would not allow it, citing certain drawbacks, intelligence reports, and calls made by certain illegal organizations as required by his duty. He had a positive approach open to communication. But in the end, there was a ban; he called it a restriction.

Essentially, some people think Taksim Gezi Park is their own sovereign banner, and if society goes there, they will lose their sovereignty and their power. However, if you have started to protect your sovereignty with a ban, then you can no longer speak of sovereignty, authority, or power there. Governments established by pressure and force are sooner or later doomed to lose. The mind that governs the country is devoid of this self-confidence and understanding of democracy. Despite all our warnings, it did not happen.

"I REPEAT MY CALL"

We had another meeting with the Minister of Interior this morning. They said they could not fulfill my proposal and request, and we told them that this was not right. It is still not too late. I repeat my call from here.

"CONSTITUTIONS ARE NOT MADE FOR ERDOĞAN"

Today there is a constitutional debate. Mr. Kurtulmuş came and visited. They say, 'The CHP should also be included in the process of making a new constitution.' I said it in my statement, and I told Kurtulmuş as well.

Constitutions are products of social consensus; constitutions are made for everyone born, not for Erdoğan.

Constitutions encompass society; they are inclusive and pluralistic. If the constitution is the garment of democracy and you do not abide by it, what good is getting a new one? Turkey has a constitution. It has articles we all like and dislike. Until a new one is made, it is everyone's duty to abide by the existing one.

WHAT WILL THE CHP DO ON MAY 1?

The constitution says that Constitutional Court (AYM) decisions are binding. It is everyone's obligation to abide by that decision. The AYM tells the executive, "You cannot ban Taksim." Someone who does not abide by this decision—of course, we will negotiate, but when it comes to the constitution, there is nothing more natural than expecting the existing constitution to be followed. The Can Atalay decision is clear. There is a rights violation decision given for each of the Gezi prisoners; keeping them detained is not abiding by the constitution.

I have always defended and will continue to defend politicians shaking hands. Negotiation is one thing, communication is another. It is the duty of each of us to expect those of us who have sworn an oath to the Constitution to remain loyal to each other's oaths.

If they are walking to Taksim by gathering from Beşiktaş and Saraçhane because the AYM said the workers are right, we as the CHP will be with them.

THE MASSACRE IN GAZA

Reactions to the massacres in Gaza are rising from Western universities. It is nothing but hypocrisy for the government, which supports the Palestinian solidarity actions carried out by students, to intervene in the actions carried out by students at Boğaziçi in Turkey while praising the actions in America. It is Deniz Gezmiş and his friends, the leaders of us all, who wrote the indelible word 'revolution' on the Revolution Stadium at METU; come to your senses. There is no side to this much hypocrisy that can be tolerated in politics or human relations.

"UNAPPOINTED TEACHERS"

There are no unappointed teachers; there are teachers who have not been appointed by this government. You received votes by saying you would abolish the interview system.

Not abolishing the interview system is an admission of deceiving the voter. If you were not going to appoint them, why did you have them study, brother?

REACTION TO THE CURRICULUM!

If your child does not understand what they read, the fault lies with the mindset you chose, the understanding that turns national education into the propaganda of one party. They say, 'We prepared it in 10 years, give your opinion in 7 days.' There can be no national education without a common mind. We reject this curriculum. Of course, we will work on this curriculum."