CHP responds to the question 'Why didn't Özgür Özel march to Taksim on May 1st?'! 'After that point, we...'

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir held a press conference at the TBMM.

Making statements regarding the agenda, Emir condemned the fact that Taksim Square was not opened to workers on May 1st, Labor and Solidarity Day.

Stating that CHP Chairman Özgür Özel conducted a kind of "shuttle diplomacy" to have Taksim opened for demonstrations by labor organizations and workers, Emir noted that the government did not take a step back on this issue despite the Constitutional Court's (AYM) ruling that closing Taksim to May 1st celebrations is a "violation of freedom of expression."

Claiming that the government is afraid of organized labor and workers, Emir expressed that his party took care to ensure that workers and security forces did not confront each other, and in this context, they were disturbed by the negative images from yesterday.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Emir said, "Unfortunately, we saw images of security forces turning the Aqueduct into a Great Wall and sealing off Taksim Square with a human wall. We saw that events occurred between workers and some protesters that we did not want, which could have led to provocation. Our stance against closing Taksim to May 1st is extremely clear, but of course, we consider it a duty to avoid any attitude that would give the appearance of assisting a provocation. But let them know that there is a one-year process ahead of us. We will put up every kind of struggle for Taksim to be opened to workers on May 1st, and eventually, Taksim Square will be opened to workers."

"WE REMIND HIM ONCE AGAIN THAT HE SHOULD AVOID WASTE"

Recalling the new official vehicle allocated to the President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbaş, Emir said, "As the head of an institution established for the teaching of our religion, where waste is considered makruh and haram, and for the provision of religious services, we remind him once again that he should avoid waste. While people in our country are struggling with hunger, poverty, and unemployment, we condemn the fact that someone holding the title of President of Religious Affairs is purchasing a seventh official vehicle and that it is a 16 million lira luxury vehicle. We call on him to abandon this behavior."

Murat Emir stated that the practice of providing 25 cubic meters of free natural gas will end as of today, saying, "It is essential to extend the duration of the 25 cubic meter natural gas aid."

THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION'S NEW CURRICULUM

Criticizing the fact that only 1 week was given for the review of the "Turkey Century Education Model" prepared by the Ministry of National Education (MEB), Emir used the expression, "You have been preparing for 10 years; you give the citizens, educators, universities, students, and parents 1 week. We expect the MEB to abandon this irrationality and mockery as soon as possible."

Criticizing the model's name for carrying the "Turkey Century" slogan used by the AKP as an election slogan and the Arabic word "maarif" (education), Emir continued his words as follows:

"Mr. Minister, what is your problem with the word 'eğitim' (education)? You are the Minister of Education, not the 'Minister of Maarif'. Even this naming clearly reveals the ideological approach within it from start to finish. In the new curriculum, we can barely see Atatürk, secular and scientific education. We see the heavy shadow of a Milli Görüş-aligned, sharia-based approach. We see that even in the History of Revolution courses, the word secularism is mentioned only a few times. This anachronistic model has no contribution to make to our children and the future of our country. This mistake must be reversed. What our children deserve is scientific, secular, and contemporary education. It is essential that this be prepared only through a democratic path, involving all educational components, parents, and students, without excluding any scientific method."

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Emir also answered questions from members of the press.

WHY DIDN'T ÖZGÜR ÖZEL MARCH TO TAKSIM?

Upon being asked why his party did not enter Taksim Square yesterday, Emir said that they made efforts to enter Taksim Square and conducted diplomacy with Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya. Emir continued as follows:

"However, the Minister of Interior, in line with the instructions he received from the palace, stood against these attempts of ours in a way that does not recognize the law and the constitution, and did not grant permission. The organizers of the meeting, the members of the committee that carries out the May 1st commemorations, DİSK, KESK, TTB, TMMOB, and the Turkish Dental Association, showed a stance against confronting the police in Taksim as a result of the negotiations. After that point, we had no choice but to respect the true owners of the Taksim commemorations. After our Chairman made his speech, he left there, but until the last union left, CHP members, including the CHP Provincial Chairman, waited in Saraçhane Square. The CHP has shown every determination for Taksim to be opened to workers on May 1st, but it did not want to enter into a scene of conflict with the police; it also showed sensitivity in not making anyone a part of that."

Emir answered questions regarding the police intervention against those who wanted to march from Saraçhane to Taksim Square and the social media post of Istanbul Governor Davut Gül about the May 1st demonstrations as follows:

"Those images did not suit Turkey; they did not sit well with us. The creator of that image is the AKP. Those who were not allowed to march there were workers; they were workers and organized forces whose demonstrations were blocked. Of course, we take into account that there might have been some provocative elements there, but we would have expected our security forces to take a much more careful stance there. We understand our police brothers and sisters who are responsible for carrying out the orders there, but the police chiefs at the end of the radio, the Istanbul Governor, are already openly challenging with this attitude. The people the Governor is lecturing, and whom he shared with a feeling of almost 'we have taken revenge,' are workers and laborers. He has once again revealed that he is not the governor of the state, but the governor of the AKP."