Özgür Özel challenges Erdoğan: 'If the CHP candidate receives less than 60 percent of the vote, I will consider it a failure'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with BirGün reporter İsmail Arı and Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan at Sincan Prison.

Speaking after the visit, Özel emphasized that Tanju Özcan was arrested for “collecting donations for a foundation and providing scholarships to students.”

Özel made the following remarks regarding İsmail Arı's detention:

“The reason Mr. İsmail Arı is being kept inside is for writing over 20 reports involving Erdoğan and his family.

Then there is the Yunus Emre Foundation. I am announcing this for the first time here. I read the reports about the Yunus Emre Foundation from İsmail Arı. Then, without going beyond the scope of those reports, I read some of them from outside as well.

I voiced that report. They filed a lawsuit against me for this.

The lawsuit is concluded. I have mentioned this to İsmail Arı now and I will provide it to his lawyers.”

“IT IS BEING DONE TO INTIMIDATE JOURNALISTS”

In his assessment of the legal process in question, Özel stated the following:

"The judge says that a Yunus Emre Foundation, the signatures made at this foundation, the tenders received, the tenders given to certain people—which turned out not to be tenders at all—and the payments made are matters of public interest. Concrete evidence has been presented. This is a matter of politics. It is the public's right to know. Friends, this is already the profession of journalism. The work a journalist does is also done on behalf of the public. I was acquitted in that case, friends. I voiced that report, and the judge did not rule for compensation regarding that case. And he said this is a matter of politics. It is a politician's duty to make an effort for the public to know this. And the source of this is İsmail Arı's reporting, friends. How are you keeping İsmail Arı here for this?"

Özel also stated that Arı has been in detention for 9 days and noted that this situation will be reflected in international reports.

In his statement, Özel mentioned that the names of Merdan Yanardağ and Ali Can Uludağ would also be included in the reports, noting that there is a regression regarding freedom of expression.

Referring to the simultaneous operations targeting the relatives of a journalist in Tokat, Özel said the process is intended to “intimidate.”

ASSESSMENT REGARDING THE ETİMESGUT INVESTIGATION

Özel also spoke about the investigation conducted into the Etimesgut Municipality.

"Etimesgut Municipality has already made its own statement. It is an investigation carried out upon the complaint of the municipal administration. A criminal complaint was filed when it was noticed by the municipality. There is no issue concerning us.”

“THEY ARE AFRAID IF İMAMOĞLU BECOMES THE CANDIDATE”

The CHP leader also touched upon the lawsuits filed against CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Özel emphasized that the process is political and made the following remarks:

“WHOMEVER THE CANDIDATE IS, THEY WILL SWEEP THEM AWAY”

"All the lawsuits filed against İmamoğlu are opened entirely to punish a politician so that he faces a political ban.

Why are they afraid: They are afraid that if it returns from the appellate court and he becomes a candidate, he will sweep us away. If Ekrem İmamoğlu cannot be a candidate, whoever the candidate is will sweep them away.

If the CHP candidate receives less than 60 percent of the vote against Erdoğan, I will consider the election result a failure, even if we come to power.”