Özgür Özel calls on CHP organizations in his speech in İzmir

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel was welcomed at Adnan Menderes Airport by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, district mayors, members of parliament, and party members.

Özel stated that the Republican People's Party (CHP) has won 14 metropolitan municipalities and that they are currently engaged in a legal battle for a 15th.

"The Republican People's Party has won 35 provinces. It is 11 provinces ahead of its closest rival," said Özel, adding, "While the number of our female mayors, including 3 metropolitan mayors, has increased from 11 in the previous term to 35, the most significant contribution to this belongs to the voters of İzmir, who elected 8 out of the 9 female candidates we presented in İzmir. We have 58 young mayors in Turkey, almost all of whom come from our youth organizations."

"WE DID NOT TAKE ANYONE'S RIGHTS"

"We did not take anyone's rights during the candidate selection processes," said Özel. "If we have any flaws or mistakes, they were not intentional. However, we continued with three of our colleagues who ranked at the highest level in İzmir's satisfaction surveys. We explained the following to our other colleagues: İzmir is a tough grader. Is it unfair? No, it is justified.

Does it deserve the best? Yes, it does. Does it provide the greatest support? Yes, it does. We saw İzmir's expectations. We heard its voice. We appeared before İzmir with a list that listened to and responded to that voice, and İzmir voted for change, transformation, rejuvenation, the major step toward equal representation of women in politics, and the beautiful days to come.

From now on, İzmir will get what it deserves. İzmir will continue its good municipal practices. It will build upon what has been done, but it will also respond to that great expectation," he said.

"I WILL STAND AGAINST DISTRICT CHAIRS WHO ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE MAYOR"

Calling on CHP organizations, Özel said, "I will support to the end any organization that correctly balances the organization and the municipality, supports one another, correctly explains the actions taken, and any mayor who rightfully protects their organization.

Let no one doubt that I will also stand against any district chair who attempts to undermine the mayor with old habits, through any kind of intervention aimed at winning a district election, or with unreasonable demands regarding the provision of public services.

Because we are not aspiring to just any 5 years. If anyone makes a mistake during these 5 years, it will hinder our goal of making Atatürk's party the first party in the first local and general elections it enters, and making Atatürk's party the ruling power in the first election of the second century. We will recognize no obstacles on this path."

"IF WE HURT A SINGLE AK PARTY SUPPORTER OR UPSET A SINGLE MHP SUPPORTER, WE WILL HAVE COMMITTED THE GREATEST OF MISTAKES"

Özel stated, "If we hurt a single AK Party supporter or upset a single MHP supporter with the self-confidence this victory has given us, and if we make the young people from the People's Alliance, many of whom supported us, feel like strangers in this party, we will have committed the greatest of mistakes. This place is a father's house. Everyone who comes to the father's house can sit in peace. One sibling may uncover their head, another may cover it. The father does not interfere with anyone. One person sits in one room of the father's house and enjoys themselves, another prays and worships in another room. The father's house is such a place. İzmir is a city of tolerance and freedoms that advocates for living together, governing together, and protecting the rights of those who are not 'one of us' even more than one's own rights."

Noting that Hamza Dağ also contributed to İzmir, Özel said, "Although we did not find the Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate's attempt to distance himself from his party during his campaign to be sincere, he has contributed to a positive climate until today with the language he used, the campaign he conducted, and the compliments he paid to İzmir. If we made a mistake, if I broke the heart of any of my members, I take responsibility as the chairman. I personally apologize to the organization for any mistakes made unknowingly throughout the entire election period. The İzmir Alliance won in İzmir, the Turkey Alliance won in Turkey. Turkey will win."

Özel then departed from the airport to visit the Metropolitan Municipality in his hometown of Manisa, which switched from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to the Republican People's Party (CHP).