Özgür Özel's response to Erdoğan on Istanbul: 'Challenge accepted! Let's renew the election'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited his party's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu at the Marmara Prison in Silivri, where he is being held. Speaking after the visit, Özel responded to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's remarks regarding the administration of Istanbul.

RESPONSE TO ERDOĞAN ON "ISTANBUL": "LET ISTANBUL RESIDENTS DECIDE"

Reacting to Erdoğan's statement that "we did not consent to Istanbul experiencing another Interregnum period," Özel said, "The people of Istanbul decide who will govern Istanbul. They received a democratic slap in the elections. They took Mayor Ekrem and put him here with all sorts of slanders. Let's renew the Istanbul elections. Let's renew them not just in Istanbul, but everywhere. If he is confident, challenge accepted!"

"THEY WANT TO SILENCE THE OPPOSITION"

Özel also stated that the government aims to silence the voice of the opposition. Criticizing the appointment of a trustee to TELE1, Özel said this situation reflects the government's goal of silencing the opposition.

REACTION TO "ESPIONAGE" ACCUSATIONS

The CHP leader also reacted to the espionage accusations directed at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Özel said, "There is no accusation that will ever stick to someone like Ekrem İmamoğlu or our other colleagues. If 'espionage' comes out of this, then the ministries that issued these tenders and those who gave out plaques will also be responsible. This is a malicious attack, and we are facing an extraordinarily bad attack."

"I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE SLANDERERS OF WHAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST"

Özel continued his words as follows: "I suggest that those who call Ekrem İmamoğlu and our colleagues 'spies' think about how they will prove their own party members innocent tomorrow. Just like the slanders made against FETÖ members, I would like to remind all slanderers of what was done in the past."