The behind-the-scenes of the Özgür Özel – Meral Akşener meeting revealed! Will there be an alliance?
The behind-the-scenes of the visit paid by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel to IYI Party leader Meral Akşener has been revealed. Speaking about the visit, CHP officials stated, "From now on, we will wait for the decision to be made by the IYI Party. As we have always said, an alliance forced upon parties is of no use to anyone. However, the expectations of the public are also clear."
12punto
As the country heads toward local elections, debates over alliances continue within the opposition front.
While the IYI Party has decided to field candidates in all 81 provinces, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, who has moved past his party's convention process, invited all political parties to cooperate in his statement during his party's latest group meeting.
In this direction, CHP leader Özel visited IYI Party Chairwoman Meral Akşener.
During the meeting held at the IYI Party Headquarters, Özel was accompanied by CHP Deputy Chairman for Local Governments Gökan Zeybek, CHP Deputy Chairman for Legal and Election Affairs Gül Çifçi, CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Böke, and CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın. Akşener was accompanied by IYI Party Secretary General Ayfer Yılmaz, Deputy Chairmen Oktay Vural and Burak Akburak, and IYI Party Group Chairman Koray Aydın.
“WE STATED THAT WE RESPECT THEIR DECISION”
Özel said, “We had requested an appointment from our Chairwoman. Thankfully, they met our request as soon as possible. They hosted our delegation. In our meeting, there was a declaration of will by the IYI Party to enter the local elections in all electoral districts with their own candidates, a decision known to the public and respected by us. During our visit, we stated that we respect this decision.”
ÖZEL: THE WORD ALLIANCE HAS BECOME WORN OUT
Stating that for this reason they wanted to discuss local cooperation rather than a blanket alliance, Özel added, “The word alliance has become worn out. But local election flexibility requires faster decision-making and bilateral cooperation. We asked the IYI Party whether we could cooperate for the upcoming local elections, whether such a General Administrative Board (GİK) decision could be reconsidered, and if possible, whether it would be possible to create an opportunity for the individuals assigned by our parties to work together for cooperation in the local elections in the coming process.”
“THE PROCESS IS PROCEEDING TRANSPARENTLY”
IYI Party leader Akşener, conveying the response they gave to Özel, stated that she would ask her staff about the matter at the GİK meeting to be held on Monday and would provide an answer accordingly. The two leaders left after posing for a photo together following the meeting. Speaking about the meeting, CHP officials pointed out that Özel had already transparently explained what was discussed.
“AN ALLIANCE FORCED UPON PARTIES IS OF NO USE TO ANYONE”
According to the report by Cumhuriyet; stating that the party will continue the negotiations with this transparency, the officials made the following assessment regarding the alliance with the IYI Party: “Our chairman said all the necessary words. He explained that we respect the IYI Party's decision to enter the elections alone. For this reason, he said they discussed whether there could be cooperation in some provinces and districts locally, rather than a blanket alliance. From now on, we will wait for the decision to be made by the IYI Party. As we have always said, an alliance forced upon parties is of no use to anyone. However, the expectations of the public are also clear. The public has an expectation for good governance and social municipalism. For this, there is a need for cooperation in some places.”