CHP reiterates call for early elections! 'To the ballot box on November 2'

The Republican People's Party (CHP) Party Assembly addressed the investigations into CHP-run municipalities and the detention of several mayors during its meeting held on July 6. In the statement issued after the meeting, the party expressed its condolences for the soldiers who were martyred due to methane gas poisoning and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

TURKEY IS AT A CRITICAL CROSSROADS

The CHP Party Assembly stated that Turkey is at a critical turning point, arguing that the government is attempting to destroy democratic processes. It was stated that the process, which began on March 19, has damaged democracy and the national will. The CHP noted that the public has taken a clear stance for democracy and justice during this period, and that this stance is evident in the 15.5 million votes cast for Ekrem İmamoğlu and the more than 20 million signatures collected.

CALL FOR EARLY ELECTIONS

The CHP claimed that the government is targeting the party and those elected by the nation through political judicial operations. The arrest of Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner and the targeting of Chairman Özgür Özel through political investigations were also evaluated in this context. Emphasizing that they became the leading party in the March 31, 2024 Local Elections and have maintained this position, the CHP stated that a change in government is inevitable.

The CHP expressed that holding an early election on November 2 is mandatory for Turkey's future. Stating that the government should engage in a democratic competition instead of political judicial operations, the CHP reminded that sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation.

The following statements were included in the announcement made by the CHP PM:

'First of all, we once again wish God's mercy upon our soldiers who were martyred due to methane gas poisoning in the Claw-Lock Operation region, and patience to their families and our nation. We wish a speedy recovery to our soldiers whose treatment continues. May our nation have our condolences. As the Republican People's Party, we will continue to fight to ensure that these pains, which break all of our hearts, are not repeated.

Today, Turkey is at a critical crossroads. With the March 19 coup, the government has initiated a destructive process that completely tramples on democracy, national will, and the law in order to completely destroy democratic politics in our country and eliminate the ballot box. Just as this coup has increased the destruction of democracy, it has also deepened the economic crisis our country is going through, and the cost has once again been loaded onto our nation by the government. Tens of millions of our citizens from every social segment, every political view, and all parties have resisted the March 19 coup; our nation has taken a clear stance in favor of democracy and justice. This stance is seen in the 15.5 million votes cast for our presidential candidate, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, in the primary election held on March 23. This stance is seen in the more than 20 million signatures given for the freedom of our presidential candidate and for an early election ballot box. This stance is seen in the 31 rallies held over more than three months, in which millions of our citizens from all corners of our country participated.

'IT IS TARGETING THE NATION'S ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR PARTY WITH METHODS OF CONSPIRACY CASES'

In contrast, the government is illegitimately targeting the nation's elected officials and our party through political judicial operations and the methods of political conspiracy cases that our country has painfully experienced in the past. Our presidential candidate, our mayors, our municipal council members, our provincial chairman, our former mayors, our former deputy, and our colleagues have been imprisoned in a way that is contrary to law, reason, and conscience. For the first time since the September 12, 1980 military coup, another first has occurred, and a member of our party's decision-making body, the Party Assembly; our valued colleague Baki Aydöner, has also been arrested.

Finally, our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, who leads our nation's struggle for democracy and justice, has also been targeted by the government with political investigations and summaries of proceedings. The purpose of all these attacks is the same. Our party became Turkey's leading party in the March 31, 2024 Local Elections and has maintained its position as the leading party since that date. A change in government is approaching in our country every day, and our nation is excitedly awaiting a Republican People's Party government. The current government, however, wants to stop the change in government demanded by the nation through the political judicial operations it conducts, to prevent the Republican People's Party's journey to power, and to eliminate the ballot box, which is the only democratic tool in the hands of our nation.

'TARGETED BY THE GOVERNMENT…'

What is being targeted by the government are our nation's hopes for the future, its demand for a dignified life, and its search for peace and prosperity. What is being targeted is the will of the nation, those elected by the nation, and the next government and today's leading party, the Republican People's Party. It is clear that the government has lost the favor of the nation, which is why it is attacking those elected by the nation. What needs to be done is clear. Placing a ballot box before our nation immediately is an unavoidable necessity for Turkey's future. An early election to be held on November 2 will be an important starting step for the resolution of the crises into which Turkey has been dragged by the government. What the government must do is to face us in a democratic competition instead of attacking our party and the national will through political judicial operations. Because sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation.

“WE WILL NOT TAKE A SINGLE STEP BACK”

Furthermore, for all our colleagues who have been imprisoned based on the slanders of accusers used as apparatuses by the government, despite there being no concrete evidence or suspicion of flight, trial without arrest should be the principle, and our colleagues should regain their freedom, which has been unjustly and unlawfully usurped, as soon as possible. The society's sense of justice should not be slaughtered any further. As the Republican People's Party, we are aware of the great responsibility we have undertaken at this critical crossroads. We will not take a single step back from this determined struggle we are carrying out together with our nation. With the historical responsibility we have inherited from our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the responsibility of being the leading party that the people have given us today, we will continue to protect our Republic and our country.'