CHP leader Özgür Özel's comments on 'Demirtaş' and 'Gaye Erkan': 'With palace intrigues...'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made statements following a memorial program held for former TBMM Deputy Speaker Kamer Genç.

Evaluating the claims that Başak Demirtaş, wife of former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, would be a candidate for the DEM Party in Istanbul, Özel said:

"The declaration of will to exercise the right to vote and be elected, which is the most natural right of every Turkish citizen, is an approach that everyone should respect. It is extremely important in terms of nullifying any disrespectful approach directed at us."

"IT WAS GOOD FOR ISTANBUL"

Stating that Ekrem İmamoğlu's mayorship has been good for all of Istanbul, Özel said, "As the CHP, we look at the situation as follows; Ekrem İmamoğlu's mayorship has been good for all of Istanbul. That is why we, as the CHP, have given İmamoğlu the authority to request this duty once again. If the people of Istanbul grant this authority, there will be 5 more years of municipal governance free from rent-seeking and partisanship."

Noting that they will announce many more mayoral candidates at the Party Assembly (PM) next week, Özel added, "I think we will make significant progress next week."

"A WAR OF TUTELAGE IS TAKING PLACE AT THE CENTRAL BANK"

Addressing the allegations regarding Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, Özel said, "The Central Bank is one of Turkey's most deep-rooted institutions. I do not want to be unfair by accepting all the allegations as true or false, nor do I want to protect it without knowing the facts. A war of tutelage is taking place at the Central Bank. There are those who call it character assassination. It does not befit an institution like the Central Bank. Governors are replaced through palace intrigues. The Central Bank does not need these intrigues. Character assassination is not right. In democracies, a Central Bank Governor is not replaced by palace intrigues. They have left neither reputation nor dignity in this institution."

Speaking about the raise given to pensions, Özel reiterated his demand for the lowest pension to be increased to the level of the minimum wage.

"THEY SUPPOSEDLY GAVE A RAISE"

Furthermore, speaking about the rate of the raise, Özel said, "They supposedly gave a raise. This is not enough. This means hunger, this means misery, this means poverty. Now they are talking about a flat raise. If you are going to give a flat raise, you should give 7 thousand liras so that it reaches at least the level of the minimum wage. This should also be written into the law. The lowest pension should be at the level of the minimum wage."