First comment from CHP on the 'softening period' remark! Why did Erdoğan change his rhetoric?

Following the March 31 Local Elections, Ankara hosted a critical summit.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The chairmen of the two parties came together for the first time in 8 years. The meeting at the AKP Headquarters lasted 1.5 hours.

'SOFTENING PERIOD' MESSAGE FROM ERDOĞAN

Following the summit, both leaders made positive statements. Erdoğan said, “With this step being taken, we see that politics in our country is entering a much more softening period. I also told Mr. Özgür that I would return this visit at the first opportunity. Turkish politics needs this.”

According to the report by Cumhuriyet; evaluating Erdoğan's changing rhetoric, CHP officials said, “They did not engage in mind-reading regarding why he went for such a change in rhetoric.”

‘LET THE COUNTRY WIN’

Stating that the CHP must act with the responsibility of being the leading party, the party members said, “People expect us to voice their problems and to talk to whoever we need to talk to about this issue. That is why we say, ‘We will both negotiate and struggle.’ Sometimes it is necessary to shake hands to find solutions to the country's common problems.”

Regarding the claim that “Good communication with the AKP benefits Erdoğan,” CHP officials also evaluated, “We trust ourselves; we have no such concerns. But these meetings will benefit the country. Our problems regarding issues like the economic crisis and foreign policy can be solved with a softening language. We were always the ones saying that polarization causes harm. We pioneered a change in language in politics, and Erdoğan responded positively to the step we took. We will see how it goes from here. We want our country to win.”