Özgür Özel's 'new constitution' statement! 'Made for Erdoğan...'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel attended the CHP Provincial Chairs Istanbul Meeting.

Speaking at the event, Özel made assessments regarding the current agenda. Özel called on the government to raise the lowest pension to the level of the minimum wage.

Reacting to the revaluation rate set at 58.46 percent, Özel said that this increase should be reduced.

Regarding the new constitution debates, Özel stated, "It is clear that a constitution made for Erdoğan became insufficient for Erdoğan within a few years. Just as a garment tailored for one person does not fit everyone, it has been seen that it does not fit everyone after a while either."

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

"When we took office, I made my first visit to Cyprus.

Europe and the UN need to take a position and act immediately. As the CHP Chairman, I wrote a text and sent letters to 120 of our political relatives. 12 of them are heads of government. There are many ministers. We invited them to hear the voice of Palestine.

"THE LOWEST PENSION SHOULD BE RAISED TO THE MINIMUM WAGE LEVEL"

Inflation has decimated pensions. Despite all our legislative proposals and our struggle, the lowest pension is at a ridiculous point like 7500. It is at a point that tests people with hunger. It needs to be raised to at least the minimum wage level. They made a one-time arrangement of 5 thousand liras, which was paid in November and will not heal any wounds. They left out working retirees. Yet, they did not think about why a retiree works.

REACTION TO ERDOĞAN REGARDING RENTS

The most important problem for citizens is rent. The President was surprised and angry at the price increases on Friday, saying, "They are raising the rent from 2500 liras to 7500 liras." What he is surprised by is the process of the laws they passed themselves, which we said would not be a solution, and unfortunately, we are in a process where fights have led to much more dire consequences, proving us right. He is confessing it himself; no one is complying with the law he passed. No regulation made without the state taking responsibility and truly considering both sides is correct. What is being done here is pitting landlords against tenants.

"THE INCREASE IN THE REVALUATION RATE SHOULD BE REDUCED"

We are facing an increase that will affect all citizens, without distinguishing between poor and unemployed, through the revaluation rate. That is the 58.5 percent increase in the revaluation rate for taxes and fees. Now, the President has the authority here. He is authorized to increase or decrease it by 50 percent. The 2024 inflation target is 36 percent. So, if you believe in this inflation target you have set, if you want everyone to make correct calculations in line with this rate, you must first show sincerity yourself. You need to ensure that these fees are pulled to the 30 percent limit within your authority, and that the tax and fee the citizen will pay in the coming period is not at the 60 percent limit. I am calling out to all citizens. Those who say inflation will be 36 percent in 2024 must reduce the fees and taxes you will pay if they are sincere.

NEW CONSTITUTION STATEMENT

Turkey has a problem with a civil constitution. But Turkey also has a problem with making a constitution. For a constitution to be a text suitable for every era, it must be made for everyone born. It is clear that a constitution made for Erdoğan became insufficient for Erdoğan within a few years. Just as a garment tailored for one person does not fit everyone, it has been seen that it does not fit everyone after a while either.

LOCAL ELECTION MESSAGE

We have no promises made to anyone other than our three metropolitan mayoral candidates, which were announced by our previous Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and which we have also embraced. I have a promise made; we will do whatever is necessary to be successful in the local elections.

In this process, we are starting our satisfaction surveys with pollsters in the field starting from Monday. 7 units will conduct surveys, and whether the survey is done by 2 firms, 3 firms, or a single firm there, without them knowing, the results they produce will be audited in a different area both in an electronic environment and by means of artificial intelligence, with the most advanced techniques of statistical science, and we will conduct satisfaction surveys of the municipalities we hold with the most accurate measurement and evaluations. All our mayors who are in the hearts of the citizens and who have moved their party forward are also in our hearts.

We will conduct them regarding our candidates both in the municipalities we hold and in the municipalities where we have high hopes of winning. If the candidates are already at a very good point after the survey, if they are candidates who will win the election, and if others are behind, we will all unite on that candidate together. If there are women among those who will win, we will take our stance in favor of women. If more than one candidate is winning, if there are no special conditions and information you will provide when making that decision, we will definitely make the decision together with our organization.

"NO GIVING UP ON PRIMARIES"

In some places, they say 'they are giving up on primaries.' There is no such thing as giving up on primaries. What we gave up on or said would not happen is, under the supervision of a judge, when there are 48 days left to the election, 44 days when objections to the results are finished, 40 days when photos are taken, 35 days when vehicles are wrapped, in order not to squeeze the campaign into the last 1 month, but if a will is to be exercised while the candidate is being reduced to one, if you say the right method in candidate determination is primaries, we have not taken a step back from primaries under the supervision of our organization, where we will abide by the results, and we will not.