Kılıçdaroğlu responds to Erdoğan's accusations against Özgür Özel

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targeted CHP leader Özgür Özel during a program where he announced his party's district candidates in Antalya.

Mentioning Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in his speech, Erdoğan stated, "They stabbed Bay Kemal in the back and removed him from his seat. Mr. Özgür should also be careful; the same dagger could be plunged into his own back at any moment."

"HE WANTS TO STIR UP OUR PARTY"

Kılıçdaroğlu responded to Erdoğan's remarks. Speaking to Sözcü, Kılıçdaroğlu replied to Erdoğan's accusations by saying, "He wants to stir up our party. But we know him very well, we recognize him. I know very well what he is doing and why, and what he is saying and why. We have come face to face with him many times until today."

"OUR PARTY AND OUR PEOPLE WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY ON MARCH 31"

Evaluating the upcoming local elections, Kılıçdaroğlu said that the CHP would win many new provincial and district municipalities in the local elections, including Bursa and Balıkesir.

Kılıçdaroğlu said, "I believe that the number of CHP-run municipalities will increase across the country. In 2019, there were provinces like Bursa that we lost by a small margin. This time, we will win those provinces as well and increase the number of metropolitan municipalities. Just as we cultivated hope in the 2019 local elections, our party and our people will do what is necessary in the March 31, 2024 elections."

Here are the highlights from Kılıçdaroğlu's statements:

"If a political party that has been in power for 22 years has brought its citizens to the point where they cannot even afford a simit, what success of this government can you talk about?

A simit has become 10 liras, they raise the price to 15 liras, and this price hike is reversed under government pressure. The hike hasn't been abandoned either; it will come again after the election.

The Central Bank is one of Turkey's most deep-rooted and serious institutions. But this institution is also being worn down during this government's term. The bank cannot keep a governor. For 22 years, they still haven't learned about this country's deep-rooted institutions. Appointments to the Central Bank should be made from within. Management cannot be done with imported names; there are successful people who know the bank, otherwise there will be no stability, and the management will not be permanent. This government does have some successes, we shouldn't be unfair. For example, it has a success in serving its cronies. They say we built roads, we built bridges, but how did they do it? They did a one-lira job for 100 liras. The 99 liras in between went to the cronies. Billions of dollars went to the 'gang of five'. Due to passage guarantees and passenger guarantees, money will still come out of the citizen's pocket, the robbery is not over..."

WHAT DID THEY DISCUSS WITH ÖZGÜR ÖZEL?

Stating that he has not gone to the party Headquarters since handing over the CHP Chairmanship, Kılıçdaroğlu also said the following regarding the meal he had one-on-one with Özgür Özel:

“Mr. Özgür is a very experienced politician in our party; he served as deputy group chairman for years and held the position of group chairman. At that dinner, we talked about general politics, discussed the local elections, shared our ideas, and discussed the country's problems.”