It was the talk of the town during Erdoğan's visit: Özgür Özel's first statement on the 'empty chair' crisis!

Active days are being experienced in Ankara following the March 31 Local Elections.

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has begun visiting parties in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) regarding a new constitution.

Kurtulmuş, whose first stop was the CHP, subsequently visited the DEM Party.

Following Kurtulmuş's visit, the DEM Party announced that they would meet with CHP Chairman Özgür Özel.

DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan went to the CHP Headquarters and met with CHP leader Özgür Özel.

The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, began at 12:30. Following the meeting, the DEM Party Co-Chairs and Özel are expected to make a statement.

We are holding a press conference following our meeting with the Co-Chairs of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party. https://t.co/GeofePrtEq

— Özgür Özel (@eczozgurozel) May 3, 2024

FIRST STATEMENT AFTER THE VISIT

Özel thanked the Co-Chairs for the visit. He stated that the local election results were evaluated during the meeting.

Tuncer Bakırhan, "Today, we evaluated the election results. It was a productive meeting. We congratulated them on the results they achieved in the local elections. Until now, walls had been built between political institutions, and there was polarization. The political establishment could not discuss issues freely and in a comfortable environment. On March 31, the public gave a very important message to the political establishment." he said.

Bakırhan stated that they would come together more often as the opposition.

Tuncer Bakırhan said, "Constitutional discussions were also evaluated. There is a need for sincerity. Looking at the current climate, there is a problem of sincerity. There is a need for a clean slate." he said.

Tülay Hatimoğulları, for her part, stated, "We had requested a meeting to discuss both the CHP's success in the March 31 elections and the political processes in Turkey and the region following that election. Mr. Chairman, we congratulate you and wish you continued success." she said.

Özel replied, "Before this election, the situation in Van emerged. A very important show of solidarity was displayed there. I felt a cautious satisfaction that no trustee appointment has been implemented so far." he said.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S STATEMENT ON THE EMPTY CHAIR

CHP leader Özel spoke about his meeting with Erdoğan.

Özel said the following regarding the much-discussed empty chair;

"It is not meaningful to revisit the crises. The situation that emerged there and the subsequent request by Mr. Erdoğan to visit the CHP have resolved the matter in the best way possible.

We had the opportunity to discuss everything on the public agenda with Mr. Erdoğan. He listened, and the colleagues in his delegation took notes. We also listened to Erdoğan's assessments. I believe this is an important milestone for Turkish democracy."

NAMIK TAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE MEETING

When asked who suggested that CHP İstanbul Deputy Namık Tan participate in the meeting, Özel said the following:

"Before visiting the President, I paid a visit to Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the last impartial president to be elected. My visit was intended to seek his advice and request help with some questions before meeting with a president. His warning was as follows: He stated that the President's chief of staff and protocol director is an ambassador, and therefore it would be appropriate for me to assign an ambassador from our party to handle the protocol flow, scheduling, and follow-up. I subsequently assigned our Istanbul Deputy Namık Tan, who serves in our party, to this task."

PROPOSAL FOR A MINISTRY OF EARTHQUAKES

When asked whether he had proposed a 'Ministry of Earthquakes' to Erdoğan during the meeting, Özel gave the following response:

"Regarding earthquakes, I don't know if it would be named directly as the Ministry of Earthquakes or perhaps the Ministry of Combating Natural Disasters and Earthquake Preparedness, but I did propose the establishment of such a ministry. I went further: I suggested that if he requests a deputy minister from every political party with a group in Parliament, I would appoint a deputy minister from my party, and I shared my assessments on the importance of handling the earthquake issue in a non-partisan manner. The President followed closely, took notes, and had his staff take notes. I do not know what steps the President will take."

HATİMOĞULLARI EXPRESSES THANKS FOR SOLIDARITY

Hatimoğulları stated, "As Mr. Özgür also mentioned regarding the issue of appointed trustees; we thank all political parties and democratic forces in Turkey that showed solidarity with us concerning Van."