Headline news: The standoff between Sabah and Türkgün

The traffic of meetings between political party leaders continues following the March 31 Local Elections.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had visited AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following his election victory.

In his statement after the meeting at the AKP Headquarters, Erdoğan had said that a 'softening period' in politics had begun and that he would pay a return visit to CHP leader Özgür Özel as soon as possible.

HISTORIC SUMMIT AFTER 18 YEARS

The two leaders came together again after 40 days. Erdoğan visited the CHP Headquarters for the first time in 18 years to meet with Özel.

ÖZEL SPOKE TO SABAH

While the echoes of the historic summit continue, CHP leader Özel spoke to Yavuz Donat, one of the columnists for the pro-government newspaper Sabah.

WILL ÖZEL AND ERDOĞAN MEET AGAIN?

Whether the leaders, who have met twice in 40 days, will meet again is a subject of curiosity. Regarding the matter, Özel stated: "We did not discuss 'Let's meet again on this date' with the President... Of course, we will meet if the need arises... Meaning this atmosphere will continue... The communication channels between us will remain open at all times."

Özel also provided information regarding the content of the file he gave to Erdoğan at the end of the meeting.

Özel spoke as follows:

“Some details regarding the issues we discussed... Topic headings... The country's problems... Our thoughts on this matter. There are also the expectations of retirees.

The views and suggestions of the CHP administration regarding some ongoing cases.”

ÖZEL'S INTERVIEW ON SABAH'S FRONT PAGE FOR THE SECOND TIME

The interview Özel gave to Yavuz Donat appeared on the front page of the Sabah newspaper. The interview Özel gave to Sabah after the local elections was also featured on the front page. In that interview, Özel had used the phrase "There is no compromise on respect for the office."

Highlights from the interview Yavuz Donat conducted with Özel are as follows:

State tradition

Opposition leader İsmet İnönü would summarize his meetings with foreign statesmen on paper and send them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... Confidential/Private.

Süleyman Demirel, during his years in opposition... Even during the period when he was politically banned... would provide information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the conversations he had with foreign statesmen who came to visit him... In writing... Confidential/Private.

Yesterday... This topic also came up in our conversation with Özgür Özel. Mr. Özgür said:

Yes... We have such a tradition in our political history... Correct... Good... For the benefit of our country.

If you wish, let's not talk about this at all... Let's not look for culprits... Let's look to the future.

I also told our President... I will request an information note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when going abroad... I will request a briefing if necessary.

Upon my return, I will also inform our Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is in our country's interest to continue the institutionalized political traditions of our state.

'Open door' policy

Özgür Özel wants to obtain information on issues such as economic policies... Medium-Term Program... Budget... Inflation... Savings... Investments.

It is his right... He is doing the right thing.

The doors of the relevant minister... and the institution are open.

While discussing this topic in our conversation yesterday, Özgür Özel said:

I told you before... All communication channels between the President and us are open... They are working.

3 of our colleagues will meet with the Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mr. Mehmet Şimşek.

Professor Volkan Demir... Faculty member at Galatasaray University... He also has experience working in the market... Accounting-finance expert.

Yalçın Karatepe... Former Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University... Professor of macroeconomics.

Associate Professor Selin Sayek Böke... Secretary General of our party... She served as Deputy Chairman responsible for the economy... She taught economics courses at Bilkent University.

They will meet with Mr. Mehmet Şimşek... Then we will sit down and talk... I will receive information.

***

Chair conversation

Erdoğan... had visited the CHP Headquarters 18 years ago... "May your new building be auspicious." During the visit the other day... He examined the chairman's office and said... "Not much has changed." Özel provided information:

You met with Mr. Deniz Baykal... The furniture is the same... Nothing has been touched.

Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu only bought 2 chairs... The chairs you and I are currently sitting on."

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TÜRKGÜN TOOK A HARD STANCE

While the Sabah newspaper, known for its proximity to the government, used praise-filled language for the Erdoğan-Özel summit, the Türkgün newspaper, known for its proximity to the MHP, carried MHP leader Bahçeli's words regarding the meeting to its front page.

In the news report headlined “A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THOSE CALCULATING THROUGH THE MHP”, it was stated that “MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli stated that the contacts made in the name of 'softening' have turned into a smear campaign targeting the MHP, saying, 'The spread of an assassination of reputation against the Nationalist-Idealist Movement over a murder case is a full-throttle attempt to poison the peace environment.' Bahçeli also stated that an alliance between the AK Party and the CHP is their sincere wish.”

YENİ AKİT VIEWED THE MEETING THROUGH GEZI

The Erdoğan-Özel summit also received extensive coverage on the front page of the Yeni Akit newspaper, which is known for its proximity to the government.

In the front-page headline “CHP DOES NOT SOFTEN, IT CLENCHES ITS FIST”, CHP leader Özgür Özel was targeted.

In the news report, which argued that Erdoğan started the 'softening' policy after March 31, the phrase ‘profiting from tension’ was used for the CHP. In the report, which included the phrases “drawing strength from the pawns of Kandil and the Gezi protesters” for CHP leader Özel, attention was drawn to the photograph of those who lost their lives in the Gezi Park protests in Özel's office, and the phrase “They Hung the Picture of Gezi Vandals on the Wall” was used.