Özgür Özel reacts to Kılıçdaroğlu's 'I will hand over the party' remarks: 'Handing over management happens in sultanates'

CHP Group Chairman and Presidential Candidate Özgür Özel visited the CHP Aydın Provincial Headquarters ahead of his party's 38th Ordinary Grand Congress.

Özel was welcomed by CHP Aydın MPs Bülent Tezcan and Süleyman Bülbül, CHP Provincial Chairman Hikmet Saatçi, district mayors, and numerous party members. Speaking from a podium set up in the street because the party members could not fit inside the building, Özel said, "In recent days, the pain of that accident, which cost the life of one of our children in a KYK dormitory as a result of negligence, has fallen upon all of Turkey, the hearts of her family, and Aydın. I attended her funeral yesterday and conveyed my condolences to her family. I also convey my condolences here to her friends in Aydın."

'WE AIMED TO BE A STRONG PARTY THAT WINS IN THE 100TH YEAR'

Pointing out that the 100th anniversary of the Republic is also the 100th anniversary of the CHP, Özel said, "We will experience great happiness in this 100th year. We want to make our party, honored by the Gazi who said, 'If one of my two works is the Republic, the other is the CHP,' the ruling power in the 100th year of the Republic. We set out for a belief and a motivation so that the CHP will never lose again, will not fall into opposition, will not lose the municipalities it holds, and will add new ones to them. We set out with young people and women. Together, we aimed for the CHP to have its new cadres change its new understanding and political structure in the 100th year of the Republic and to become a strong party that wins in the 2nd century of the Republic. That is why we are on the road."

'AS A CHILD OF THE AEGEAN, I AM A CANDIDATE FOR CHAIRMAN'

Özel stated, "As a child of the Aegean, born in Manisa right next to you, raised in İzmir in boarding schools, someone who has done whatever he has done politically before the eyes of the Aydın organization, and who has run to your side whenever you called, I am someone who has been with you in good and bad times. As a brother of yours who believes in the power of the CHP in the 100th year of the Republic, as a child of the Aegean, I am a candidate for chairman."

'HANDING OVER MANAGEMENT HAPPENS IN SULTANATES'

Stating that "some expressions used by our Chairman have deeply shaken our organization," Özgür Özel said the following:

"Our Chairman says, 'In the coming period, I will hand over the party to someone who is not currently known but knows social democracy.' Handing over management happens in sultanates. It happens in kingdoms. It happens in empires. As a party that abolished the transfer of management on November 1st, we respect the will of our delegates who will hold a ceremony on November 5th. Saying 'I will hand over the party to this person' means telling the delegates that you are not authorized. Saying 'I will hand over the party to this person' means the congress is being convened in vain. Saying 'I will leave the party to whoever I want' means telling the CHP delegates that you have no value in my eyes. I reject this. Look into the eyes of your young children and ask them, 'What should I do at the congress?' So far, we have captured a wave of hope from our delegates that is much greater than what is visible and much greater than what is apparent. You welcomed me very well while I was coming here. If we are reaching such crowds, this is not so much because of the love for us personally, but because of the belief and determination for change."