CHP leader Özel's 'equal representation' message at the Women's Congress: 'We will make half of the mayors women too'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the 15th Ordinary Congress of the CHP Women's Branches. 

Some excerpts from Özgür Özel's speech are as follows: 

"The time has come for that; since we have said equal representation and submitted the legislative proposal, we must ensure equal representation starting from our own areas of power. In the congress we held, there was party representation, a party assembly was formed, and we elected a central executive board from there; half of this MYK consisted of women.

Within the MYK, we have our shadow cabinet, which is a structure that mirrors the current cabinet and provides guidance. Tayyip Bey has a cabinet of 18 people, and among them, there is only one woman, and she is responsible for the family. Both Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and we are candidates to govern this country. Tayyip Bey, looking into the eyes of the women of Turkey, says this: 'Your place is your home, your family. You don't understand justice, you don't understand tourism-culture, you don't understand trade; you cannot interfere with the work of the Ministry of Health with your hands covered in dough, you cannot be the Minister of Youth and Sports, you cannot have a say in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.' He has a minister who has coded in his head that a woman's place is her family, her child. It is to look after her child, to look after her elders. Here in this hall, against those same 18 assignments, our 9 assignments... Minister of Justice Gökçe Gökçen, Minister of Family and Social Services Aylin Nazlıaka, Minister of Tourism and Culture Gülşah Deniz Atalar, Minister of Industry and Trade Pınar Uzun, Minister of Health Zeliha Aksaz Şahbaz, Minister of Youth and Sports Sevgi Kılıç, Minister of Labor and Social Security Gamze Taşcıer are present.

'YOU WILL PROVIDE EQUAL REPRESENTATION'

We have 9 assignments. If you are going to provide equal representation, if 9 men are serving, then 9 women must also serve. Now the charter is coming, and the management that will be formed from now on will speak your word to the charter. Without leaving equal representation to tomorrow, by providing the most reasonable transition from today, we will make 40 percent first and then 50 percent of CHP deputies and half of the mayors women.

Tayyip Bey has a cabinet; it consists of 17 ministers and 1 vice president, 18 people, and among them, there is only one woman, and she is responsible for the family. In other words, both Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his party, and we, are candidates to govern this country. Half of this country is women, half is men.

After the first election, we will make half of the CHP deputies and half of the mayors women and half men, are you with me?

'STAND UP AND MAKE THIS PARTY THE GOVERNMENT'

We must include those people with us, and if they can contribute, we must work together. As the chairman, this is what I want from this hall. We are the sole guarantee of that woman against violence. We are the ones who will stand by the woman who seeks her rights in this process. The Turkey alliance is not a political alliance. It is an alliance of youth and women. It is an alliance where poor and working women find a place for themselves. Opposite us, there are those who do not value those who vote for them and turn their backs on those who do not. We will not be like that. Our women's branches are also in a very important place in this process. I vouch for each of them. Every decision you have made up to this point has been on our heads, and it will be the same from now on. As your chairman, I promise to work as hard as you do for women. Stand up and make this party the government! I am proud of all of you, I trust all of you. We will succeed, Turkey will be saved.''

WORKER PROTEST AT THE CONGRESS

Upon the Çiğli Municipality workers chanting ''we want our jobs back'' at the congress, Özgür Özel reacted to the slogans by saying, "I will not let men provoke this place, take the male friends out." 

2 NAMES WITHDREW FROM CANDIDACY

Birsen Bayar, one of the candidates for CHP Women's Branches President to be elected at the CHP Women's Branches Congress, announced that she supports Birsen Temir Saraç and withdrew from her candidacy. 

In her statement, Birsen Temir Saraç said, "I offer my thanks to my fellow traveler Birsen Bayar, who withdrew from candidacy in my favor. Women will elect women, this path will lead to power!"

On the other hand, it is reported that Birsen Temir Saraç also withdrew from her candidacy to support Aylin Nazlıaka. 

CONGRESS PROCESS HAS BEGUN

The 15th Ordinary Women's Branches Congress of the CHP began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem.

CHP Deputy Chairman Gökçe Gökcen was elected as the Congress Council President.