Özgür Özel speaks to Financial Times: 'It will bring life to a standstill...'
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel described the government's legal interventions against his party as a "coup attempt." Özel announced that plans for peaceful civil disobedience that would bring life in Turkey to a standstill are ready.
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Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel, in an interview with the Financial Times, harshly criticized the government's actions against his party. Özel stated, "Erdoğan knows he can no longer win elections. That is why he wants a weak opposition party. If the CHP goes, Turkey goes."
WE WILL BRING LIFE TO A STANDSTILL
Özel said that the CHP has developed various plans against the pressures in Turkey, including "peaceful but highly effective civil disobedience actions that will bring life to a standstill."
LEGAL COUP ATTEMPT
Özgür Özel stated that the government is "staging a coup against the future opposition party," criticizing a lower court ruling that invalidated the appointment of Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik. Özel said, "Lower courts do not have the authority to make decisions regarding elections. We do not recognize these rulings. But if necessary, we will question the legitimacy of past elections and even open up for debate the elections Erdoğan won and the 2017 presidential referendum."
Stating that the CHP is working on democratic and peaceful resistance plans, Özel said, "Tens of millions could take to the streets. Erdoğan is trying to guess our reaction, but we do not want him to prepare for it."
EMPHASIS ON LAW AND DEMOCRACY
CHP leader Özel stated that it must be demonstrated that judges in Turkey are not under Erdoğan's control. Acknowledging that this move could be risky and might further weaken the rule of law, Özel said, "Erdoğan is lawless, but the CHP follows the law."