Özel explains the March 19 process! 'The coup was repelled by those who defend democracy'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in statements evaluating the developments following March 19, called for cooperation among all segments that defend democracy. Özel emphasized that the coup attempt was repelled not by a single party, but by the collective struggle of those who believe in democracy.  

Responding to questions from Semra Kardeşoğlu of BirGün, Özel said, "The coup was suppressed for this process, but the intentions of the coup plotters have not changed. If they find the opportunity, they will attempt it again. The will that repelled the coup, which will not give them a new opportunity, must stand tall and this must be made permanent. We know that, in the end, no single party repelled the coup. It was repelled by everyone who said 'democracy against autocracy' together. This includes all opposition forces. One must acknowledge the contribution of each of them separately."

EMPHASIS ON THE UNITY OF DEMOCRATS

Recalling the strategy followed in the March 31 elections, Özel said, “We did not say that we are winning this election only as the CHP. We achieved success through broad democratic unions such as the Turkey Alliance and the Istanbul Alliance. Among the components of this alliance were everyone from social democrats to conservative democrats, nationalist democrats to Kurdish democrats. The issue is to ensure the unity of democrats against organized evil.”  

CALL TO BAHÇELİ FOR A DEMOCRATIC GROUND

Responding to MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statements that the cases regarding İmamoğlu should be accelerated, Özel invited Bahçeli to democratic ground. 

Özel stated the following:

Let journalists and political commentators evaluate Bahçeli's expressions. We invite Bahçeli to democratic ground. We will walk with the light we hold before us. Here, the youth are walking at the very front, all democrats are walking. If Bahçeli is going to contribute to this light being held, he is welcome to come. There is no doubt that he can shine his light in front of us, but we will not walk by the light he holds and directs. It would not be possible for me to believe someone who has done so much evil if they said, 'Come, walk this way.' After the place where he demonized us and linked us to terrorism, come walk this way—I swear I have no intention of walking that way.

If Bahçeli defends democracy, I say we can meet through the front door or the side door. But you cannot say nothing about the March 19 coup, you cannot say nothing while a bunch of co-chairs, chairmen, and politicians are imprisoned, you cannot say nothing about Erdoğan's actions with Akın Gürlek; this is not acceptable.

Now he sees that there is an agenda other than the 'Terror-free Turkey' issue. The agenda is now being determined elsewhere. You have to suggest a path against this. No, I will continue to walk through democracy. I am contributing to a terror-free Turkey in Parliament, through democratic means to solve the Kurdish issue. Let's make a 3T formula with Bahçeli. Let it be 'Terror-free Turkey', 'Trial without detention', and 'Broadcasting on TRT'. I will provide democratic support for a terror-free Turkey in Parliament. He should support trial without detention and broadcasting on TRT.