Important messages from CHP Chairman Özgür Özel after the party congress

The 38th Ordinary Congress of the Republican People's Party (CHP) has concluded. On the first day of the congress, the chairmanship election went to a second round. In the first round, the change-makers' candidate Özgür Özel received 682 votes, while Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu received 664.

In the second round of the chairmanship election, the change-makers' candidate Özgür Özel was elected as the 8th Chairman of the CHP with 812 votes. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu remained at 536 votes. After the congress, the question of why Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu did not withdraw after the first round became a subject of curiosity. 

PRESSURE ON KILIÇDAROĞLU: 'YOU CANNOT WITHDRAW'

Footage emerged showing that during the CHP congress, Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to withdraw after the first round, but the people around him prevented it. It was seen that those calling out to Kılıçdaroğlu said, 'You cannot withdraw, we do not allow it.'

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL: MR. KEMAL CAME TO RAISE MY HAND BUT THEY STOPPED HIM

Responding to questions from İsmail Saymaz of Sözcü, Özgür Özel stated, “I consider Mr. Kemal to have raised my hand. Because he came with that intention. Mr. Kemal lacked a staff of advisors. A staff, as you call it, looks out for the interests of both the leader and the party. There were one or two people beside him who could do this. I didn't see those friends that night. When you lack a staff of advisors, that is the result you get. A real staff of advisors would have the opponent's hand raised if the leader remained below the absolute majority in the first round. Mr. Kemal came to do this with his own intuition, but they stopped him.”

KILIÇDAROĞLU'S “STABBED IN THE BACK” STATEMENT: I DID NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY

Regarding Kılıçdaroğlu's statement, “I was stabbed in the back,” Özel said, “I did not take it personally.” Stating that he never betrayed his leader, Özel referred to his candidacy, saying, “If putting forward this claim is betrayal, then if I hadn't put it forward, I would have betrayed myself, the party, and the chairman for not telling the truth. Because the streets are calling for change.”

“I DON'T THINK HE MEANT US WITH THE STABBING COMMENT”

Özel explained what he thought Kılıçdaroğlu meant by the expression “being stabbed in the back” as follows:

“It was used regarding the congress. But the delegates did not buy into that sentiment. They think I did not betray the chairman. Because CHP delegates would not vote for someone who stabs them in the back. It was clear in the hall that while there was no objection to a change in leadership, there was a mood of protecting Mr. Kemal. Mr. Kemal wanted to take advantage of that mood. I don't think he meant us.”

NEW DIALOGUE WITH THE IYI PARTY

Özel said that the Table of Six and the Nation Alliance are things of the past. However, opening the door for a new dialogue with the IYI Party and stating that he wants to meet with Akşener, Özel said, “If Ms. Meral deems it appropriate, rather than a grand alliance, there is no harm in having alliances in necessary places where we will listen to the voices of our local organizations.”

“I HAVE KNOWN THIS KID SINCE THE MANISA CHILDREN'S CASE”

Özel explained what he meant when Sabri Ergül said, “I have known this kid since the Manisa children's case”:

“Those who were tortured in the Manisa Case were leftist friends. They were held in custody for a few days and were tortured. I ran away from boarding school. I came in front of the Manisa Police Department. We were protesting. I called the İzmir deputies from a payphone. I was able to reach Sabri Ergül. I said, ‘They are torturing our friends, you must come.’ He said, ‘Okay, my child, I will come.’ We put up a great fight. We were protesting. When the police came, we ran away. We were small. Ergül came. He shouted, ‘What is happening here?’ The police got scared. He went inside and closed the door. He took something out of his jacket pocket. He wrote, ‘There is torture in this workplace.’ I have known Ergül since that day.”

WHAT DID SELVİ KILIÇDAROĞLU SAY?

Özel also explained what Selvi Kılıçdaroğlu said when she was seen stopping him and reacting while they were shaking hands:

“She said something like, ‘It was not right for you to say that.’ I asked, ‘What?’ She said, ‘You said it, when the 39 deputies were being determined, we were not there.’ I didn't answer. When Mr. Kemal got up, I said to Ms. Selvi, ‘I was not on the committee.’ She said, ‘I know you were.’ I said, ‘No one knew except Oğuz Kaan Salıcı.’ She said, ‘Okay, then.’ I kissed her hand.”