CHP Chairman Özgür Özel announces he will meet with HEDEP

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated that the co-chairmen of HEDEP would be visiting him. He also signaled that if there is to be cooperation with HEDEP for the local elections, it will not be done in secret. Özel spoke as follows:

'We would like to come for a visit,' they said, and I replied, 'I will be expecting you.' They asked, 'At the Parliament?' and I said, 'It makes no difference.' I told them they could also come to the headquarters. I left the choice to them. If we are going to cooperate with them, the public has a right to know. I have no intention of saying, 'You support us, but let's not tell the public.' All voters, those with certain sensitivities and certain expectations, should know.

Speaking to BirGün newspaper, Özgür Özel gave the example of the secret protocol his predecessor Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made with the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi). "I heard with my own ears that the secret protocol seriously disturbed some Kurdish voters and that this imposed a cost on us," he said.

Özel stated, "I do not find it right, necessary, or appropriate for a large number of parties to form an alliance from now on." He noted that parties could have specific collaborations for electoral districts. Regarding the word 'alliance,' Özgür Özel said, "It has become a bit tired," and added that it would be more accurate to say 'cooperation.'

Özgür Özel said that the party congress where he was elected would also make a positive contribution to the ballot box for them. "I think that at the end of the next 4-year period, the CHP will increase its votes to over 35 percent," he said.