CHP leader Özel on 'normalization': 'It contained no elements that would lead to an incomplete opposition'

CHP leader Özgür Özel and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu spoke at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Advisory Board Meeting.

The Istanbul Provincial Advisory Board meeting was held today ahead of the CHP's party charter congress, which will take place next weekend.

The meeting was attended by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, CHP deputies, IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik.

'WE DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE MINUTE TO SPARE FOR AGENDAS DISTANT FROM THE PUBLIC'

Stating that they want to turn the congress into a 'festival of collective wisdom,' İmamoğlu continued as follows:

"I believe that advisory board meetings yield results. I believe that as the CHP, we will prepare the best party charter congress, starting from this week and continuing through the process leading up to our party's anniversary. I believe in our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, on this matter. This preparation is a preparation for government. We do not have a single minute to spare for agendas distant from the public.

Let us make time for each other, talk, reconcile, make amends, and discuss, but let all these conversations proceed in a high-quality process to ensure calm and build cooperation among ourselves. I hope that it does not occupy the agenda in a way that reflects differently to the public and stretches our nation's primary agenda here and there.”

Following İmamoğlu, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel took the podium. Özel delivered the following messages:

"There is no point in what is said if parties' charters are not democratic. Our congress delegates heard the streets. They supported the discourse that 'if the CHP changes, Turkey will change.' With the strength we received from the congress and the great effort we put forth, we went into the March 31 elections and achieved electoral success where we won two out of every three municipalities in Istanbul, won the metropolitan municipality by a large margin despite all attempts to wear us down, and will govern 65 percent of Turkey's population.

'WE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO WITHDRAW'

Just because we are the founding party does not mean we own the state. While those who have governed the state incompetently for 22 years, wearing it down and leaving it in ruins, stand on one side, we will not allow them to withdraw when the day comes as if we were responsible for everything. With a self-confident approach that protects its nation, we will move forward together by interpreting every principle in the six arrows as it should be in this era, embracing its past and correctly interpreting its present.

Knowing who it is doing politics for in this century, the CHP will determine with consensus how we will carry out this march to make those who should pay the bill pay it, and we will present it to the nation. While we are this determined, there are those who are desperately but with certain cunning trying to drag us into other debates. I have nothing to say to those who participate in these debates with old reflexes, but it is clear that those who attempt to be a part of this ill intent do not have feelings that intersect with the CHP government that this country deserves.

CRITICISM OF AHLAT

Erdoğan did not go to Ahlat to hold a meeting, but to have photos taken; not to send a message, but to start new debates with the messages he gave. He made a speech that missed old polemics and tried to drag us into debates.

COMMENT ON NORMALIZATION

Trying to portray the CHP as divisive toward the country it founded is nothing more than trying to cover up poverty and avoid taking responsibility for major negligence. Whoever does not find what the CHP has done since the election correct should know this well: the CHP is Turkey's leading party.

Normalization has not contained a single element that would lead to an incomplete opposition to date. Normalization is making one's voice heard by the entire nation. It is not remaining silent about a single wrong they commit, and not leaving a single ant they crush alone. I want all my colleagues to have the resilience not to fall for this game. We are moving forward with patience, hope, determination, and self-confidence. We will create the most democratic and participatory charter among political parties."