CHP leader Özgür Özel visits ABB Mayor Mansur Yavaş: 'When we take power...'

CHP leader Özgür Özel visited Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş.

During the visit held at the municipal building, ABB Mayor Mansur Yavaş presented CHP Chairman Özgür Özel with a plaque symbolizing the five white values of Ankara: the Ankara rabbit, Ankara honey, Ankara goat, Ankara cat, and Ankara pigeon.

Özgür Özel, in turn, gifted Mansur Yavaş a certificate of donation made to the Association for Supporting Contemporary Living (ÇYDD) in honor of his success in the elections.

Following the meeting, Yavaş stated the following:

I informed them about some of the work we have done in our municipality. While reviewing the past term, we also received our chairman's recommendations for the upcoming term.

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

I came to congratulate Mr. Yavaş.

This is the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality; this is the capital of Turkey. This is the capital of austerity, friends.

The austerity circular that we will send to all municipalities in the coming days is being prepared meticulously.

If they want to see what austerity is, they should look at the municipalities we govern.

"EPIC MUNICIPALISM"

A taboo has been broken in Turkey, friends. Against those who point to the Palace in Ankara and the long convoys in Ankara, saying, "there is no austerity in prestige, the nation loves power," the nation loves austerity much more. The nation knows that the most powerful is the most humble, and it rewards that, he said. I don't need to explain Mansur Yavaş to the people of Ankara. He has implemented an epic understanding of municipalism.

We appreciate the struggle of the minority council group last term. Today, as the majority group, we will show everyone this: when we take power, we are not among those who get spoiled or succumb to arrogance. We will not be those who look down on others.

We entered the municipal council as the voice of the voiceless. The CHP is the voice of the voiceless.

The key to general government will also be realized through the actions of the Ankara Metropolitan Council group.

WILL THERE BE A YAVAŞ-ERDOĞAN MEETING?

Yavaş responded as follows to the question regarding how Özel evaluates his meeting with Erdoğan and whether he will hold a meeting with Erdoğan:

Like the public, I also find it positive. The approach of the CHP to eliminate this tension after becoming the first party has also been welcomed positively.

The problems of our municipalities were also explained to the President. We have pending letters and are expecting positive results; if they are not resolved positively, I may consider requesting an appointment.

GEZI PRISONERS AND OSMAN KAVALA

Özel responded as follows to the question regarding allegations about the retrial of Osman Kavala:

The most intense expectation on this issue is from everyone, from businessmen to anyone who wants Turkey's economy to improve. Let us remind you that because the ECHR and Constitutional Court decisions regarding the Gezi Case are not being implemented separately, there is no rule of law in Turkey, investments cannot be made, and it has a direct negative impact on the economy.

I reminded Mr. Erdoğan line by line of the conversation Tayfun Kahraman had with Bülent Arınç and himself, and I left the documents with him.

I said to Mr. Erdoğan; if they said when you met with Bülent Arınç while you were abroad, 'do not let the President return, let the ministers resign, leave the administration to us,' then do not release any of them, this is a coup attempt, but what had they said; 'do not cut down the trees, do not build barracks here, do not demolish the AKM, do not use gas canisters like weapons.' These demands are extremely innocent demands. Then, when Tayfun Kahraman visited Erdoğan as part of a platform, also acting as the head of the chambers he was with, it passed in a positive atmosphere starting with 'our Prime Minister.' Someone who said, 'the trees will not be cut down, the court decision will be awaited, a referendum will be held, if the public does not want it, the artillery barracks will not be built,' and who is now leaving it to the discretion of the Gezi residents, should not be lying in prison. Despite the Constitutional Court decision, a member of parliament should not be kept inside.

Regarding Mr. Kavala's ECHR decision, I held full-day contacts at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in recent days. I visited all groups and met with many heads of state. He was in front of me while I was meeting with the heads of state. I also visited the Turkish delegation. There are 18 of them, they have a room, Tuğrul Türkeş is the head. Whatever party they are from, their concern is this; they say, "Whenever we open our mouths here, Kavala comes up," and when an ECHR decision is not complied with, they tell us, "they won't let us take a step here."