Flash statement from Özgür Özel on Meral Akşener and alliance! 'We are always ready'

CHP leader Özgür Özel participated in the march initiated by the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) from Istanbul five days ago. Walking to Ulus Square with DİSK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu and the workers, Özel later answered questions from journalists.

GREEN LIGHT FOR MEETING WITH AKŞENER

According to the report in Sözcü; the CHP leader made evaluations regarding his meeting with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, the release of Ogün Samast, and a potential meeting with IYI Party Chairwoman Meral Akşener. 

Özel said the following;

"I have a good dialogue and rapport with Ms. Akşener that dates back to the past. She was one of the first to share a congratulatory message after I won the party congress. We then had a phone conversation, which also took place in a sincere atmosphere. I would desire, and if the esteemed chairwoman also desires and deems it necessary, we will come together in the coming days. I believe that a negotiation between Ms. Akşener and Özgür Özel would be beneficial for the IYI Party, the CHP, the opposition, and all of Turkey. From now on, we will provide constructive contributions to such a process. We prefer to focus on helping each other and Turkey win, rather than causing each other or Turkey to lose. We are extremely positive on these matters. We have always seen in the past that the esteemed chairwoman is also positive on these issues. Whenever they deem it appropriate, we are always ready to meet."

EMPHASIS ON 'LOCAL ALLIANCES'

Özel then answered the question, "Will it come to the agenda to form an alliance again with the components of the Nation Alliance before the local elections? Have you determined your roadmap?" The CHP leader gave the following response:

"We would like to meet with all political parties entering the local elections. We look positively upon any kind of alliance that the CHP organizations at the local level and our counterparts' organizations deem necessary and can mature. Instead of a total, grand alliance, alliances that are suitable for local realities, where parties come together sometimes as two, sometimes as a few parties, may be more rational. The CHP is ready to field its own candidates in all electoral districts. We will set out with the highest number of candidates we have ever shown throughout history. We want to field candidates in every possible district. If we form an alliance in a place and do not field a candidate as a requirement of that alliance, that is possible."