CHP Chairman Özel's one-year review: 'Dilruba hurt feelings'

Özel was a guest on Uğur Dündar's Arena program on Sözcü TV. During the program, Özgür Özel made evaluations regarding his first year as Chairman.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made the following statements in his remarks;

We were so meticulous about Hatay, we said so much 'let's not make a mistake'. At this point, in determining the right candidate, we fell short in understanding the feelings of Hatay and doing the right things. We lost Hatay because we could not manage the process correctly. It was lost by two thousand votes, it wasn't lost. There is no excuse like 'the municipality in hand was cheated, our objections were not accepted, the governor was like the provincial chairman'. You should not lose Hatay, this is my great sorrow.

'DILRUBA HURT FEELINGS'

Our sister Dilruba went to prison because of a street interview she gave. I visited her in prison. I told her, 'You will be released very soon'. I told Dilruba, 'I stand by my words when you get out, but they distorted my words so much and it went to such places that I see the hearts of AKP voters are broken, tell them to forgive their rights'. She also received it very appropriately.

That was actually something Turkey needed. They demonized a very young woman. She was released hours later. It is a crime that does not carry a prison sentence, and she was released when the main opposition leader went. This is the right side of this business. There is a fair opening that day, I will make a speech. I looked and saw an empty seat next to me, they said 'we have a surprise for you'. Dilruba came and sat down. It was wrong for someone who was thought to have insulted the AKP to sit in the protocol and sit without correcting her words. It hurt feelings.

NORMALIZATION PROCESS

I do not accept the word 'softening', Mr. Tayyip tried that word once or twice, but there is no such thing... I have made 193 visits in 46 cities, I have held 122 rallies, I have held 9 thematic rallies.

I have given important messages by making 7 foreign visits, I have been elected as the vice president of the Socialist International. I have been to Eskişehir 7 times in one year. We have an understanding that visits 81 provinces repeatedly, we have not even held back a single word of ours, is this a softened opposition!

After I was elected chairman, I called the chairmen of 17 parties, I did not call only Erdoğan. We became the first party in the elections, I called all parties during the holiday, we are the first party and this falls to me... I told this to Mr. Erdoğan as well. I said I would like to visit you if you deem it appropriate. They said they would give an appointment, I went to this, and they also made a return visit.

Journalists asked me about these visits, and I said this is the normal way. Other than this, there is no question of softening or refraining from action.

The thing I don't do is insult. If you ask me what I pride myself on, I read the voter's mind. I have been taking money and giving money since I was 7 years old, I know the customer's emotional state.

If Tayyip Erdoğan and Özgür Özel fight and the voters close their ears, this works for Mr. Tayyip because the opposition's words are important here, we are explaining their mistakes. His fighting works for him, it doesn't work for me. I told Erdoğan and Bahçeli that I will not fight with you. Instead of polemics, why should I squabble with them instead of talking about the right issues and explaining our candidates...

Retirees came to our rallies and in the end, what happened, the retirees punished Erdoğan. It is important to talk to the MHP retiree despite Bahçeli, and to talk to the AKP unemployed despite Erdoğan.

When I say what the people want, I get applause from those outside the rally area as well. This is what normalization is, and it will continue.

In my meeting with Erdoğan, I talked about Tayfun, a member of my party; Kavala is lying in Silivri despite the ECHR decisions. I said these with their documents, I said if you solve these, you will do a very right thing. I said solve the grievances of the retiree and the tradesman. They told me 'constitution', and I reminded them that the constitution must be complied with first.

There is no situation like forming a coalition with Erdoğan, normalization will continue with the citizen.

TRUMP COMMENT

We wish for a period that will contribute to Turkey-America relations. We had a turbulent process with Turkey in his previous term. The Pastor Brunson incident, the 'I will destroy your economy' tweet was posted. Besides this, he opposed Turkey's Operation Peace Spring. During this time, there were things that hurt our honor. They did not give us our F-35s, perhaps the F-35s that belong to us went to Israel.

Mr. Trump's way of doing politics as well as Mr. Erdoğan's way of doing politics affected this process. The equipment of experienced bureaucrats was excluded and we experienced problems.

We expect a constructive attitude from Mr. Trump and Mr. Erdoğan that considers the mutual interests of the countries. Our main hope is that we want what is happening in Ukraine and Palestine to end.

Trump had a more neutral stance on the Israel issue. He also benefited from Muslim votes. In this sense, I hope it will contribute positively to the ongoing process.

How can this situation turn into an opportunity for Turkey? With the Senate also passing into Trump's hands, decisions in our favor may emerge. In this sense, I would like to look hopeful.

If it is pursued rationally and if Trump keeps his promise to 'keep the money within the country' and cuts the money poured into Israel, there could be positive developments. Biden did not host Erdoğan at the White House.

It would be good if importance is given to diplomacy and personal relations do not proceed with ups and downs. Otherwise, our honor is damaged when we go back on our word.

REGARDING TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS

It is something that sets Turkey's democracy back 80 years. While citizens elect their mayors with their votes and no one has dared to do such a thing until now, this government is doing such a thing to punish those who do not vote for it and to take the places it could not get in the election.

Ahmet Özer was appointed as a trustee with three big lies. They are angry at the Kurds for why you voted for the CHP candidate in Esenyurt. The lie that 'Ahmet Özer is from DEM', they say he met with Remzi Kartal, there is no such image, but there are photos of AKP names eating together.

The third big lie is that money is being deposited into his account, the money deposited is his daughter's rent, and this has also been proven.

Ahmet Türk is someone whose life is spent saying peace and solution... He has been elected mayor many times and a trustee has been appointed. Our issue here is this: we do not look at which party it is, the deputies of the CHP, the DEM, and the MHP were also arrested. If there is an unlawful act, it has no party.

It is not Mr. Tayyip who determines who the mayor of Mardin is, but the people of this place.

I did not make my speech in Mardin on the DEM Party bus, it was a civilian bus, and the statements made by Bakırhan were made before me and were not within my knowledge. I was on the plane when the Sheikh Said speech was being made. Ahmet Türk said 'the bus is yours', maybe he didn't want to be seen with me, I said 'there is no such thing' and I said 'I stand behind the will of Mardin', there is nothing to be offended or bothered by this.

What is being done today is a great evil for Turkey. Condemnation messages are coming from Europe. Turkey has become a country mentioned with Tanzania. If you do this, money, investment, and tourists will not come to this country. Especially when they attempt such a thing in Istanbul, it would be better if they shoot the Turkish economy in the forehead, such a thing cannot happen.

You did this intolerance in 2019, the difference went from 13 thousand to 800 thousand. This nation does not forgive injustice.

(Addressing Erdoğan) You experienced victimization when you were the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and you reached these points, now you are trying to make others experience the same victimization. Would it be possible for Erdoğan to reach these points if he had not experienced similar victimizations? Now he is trying to do the same thing.

Our trustee plan for Istanbul is ready. We are showing our reaction within the limits of democracy and we will continue to show it. If there are calm AKP members among them, it would be good if they warn Erdoğan about not having new trustees.

A trustee for Istanbul is not likely, but our plans are ready.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND OPENING

Mr. Bahçeli let the cat out of the bag. He says 'let Öcalan speak from the DEM Party podium, let him benefit from the right to hope', which requires the right to hope to be granted first so that he can speak in parliament. This is saying the most impossible thing at the very beginning, and this is very far from achieving a result.

Our red line is social consensus and not offending the families of martyrs and capturing an environment that they will also accept.

If these issues are discussed at a parliament-focused solution table and the right steps are taken, perhaps we can find a solution.

Mr. Devlet said 'I stand behind my words', Mr. Erdoğan supported Bahçeli in the speeches he made. It is said that trustees were appointed because Abdullah Öcalan rejected the guarantor country, but since these issues were not carried out transparently, we do not know this.

The words of Bahçeli and Erdoğan are not things to be done without establishing mutual dialogue. His relative will meet after years and immediately after that, there will be isolation again, these are things that confuse the mind...

These are not the Kurdish issue, they are the 'fur' issue... They are looking for Erdoğan's skin, I am against the personal constitutional amendment, and after such a process, as if Erdoğan could be elected again if he were a candidate...

I don't understand what kind of self-confidence this is. The purchasing power of the minimum wage has fallen to 10 thousand liras. You are still saying 'if Erdoğan is a candidate, he will be elected'. This is perception management. Erdoğan will step down from where he is in the first election, that's all.

WHY HE SAID 'LET'S BE VIGILANT, LET'S NOT FALL FOR THE GAME'

They are pitting us against the police, but those police officers will look at their family's face when they go home in the evening. They are also following orders, it is said 'let the police quit their jobs', but will you find jobs for these people? One needs to be careful.

I warn them to be careful about posters and banners that marginal groups that will come between us can hang.

They are trying to discredit our party by forcing us to take steps outside our line, but these are games played to occupy this nation. They write and draw that CHP's votes will fall, why would they fall? Am I the one calling APO to parliament?

I say there is a Kurdish issue and it should be solved, but it should be in parliament and with full consensus.

EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS CLAIM

We do not have such a problem, there are those who try to carry water to Erdoğan's boat by making us discuss as if we have such a problem. Some social media accounts show themselves as if they are working for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and put forward such claims.

If CHP turns inward, Turkey loses

The relationship between Ekrem and me is the same as the relationship I have with my brother. He does not spare his support during this time by sending me positive messages.

YAVAŞ AND İMAMOĞLU CANDIDACY DEBATE

It does not benefit our party for the CHP to have a candidacy debate. They are focusing on their work and they are doing it well. I banned myself from being a candidate from the first day, I will not allow my own ambition to cause Turkey to lose an election, and I am doing this for my daughter İpek. That is why I do not find it right to determine the candidate alone, we want to determine the candidate with the greatest and right consensus by consulting our members or with the public opinion polls we have conducted.

We set out on this path to make Atatürk's party the first and to carry it to power.

When we wanted change, we set out not to lose an election again. This is not a child's game, everyone will come to their senses. Talking about candidates benefits the AKP. Talking about injustice and unemployment benefits the citizen, it benefits the CHP. My request from everyone who loves their country is that they talk about the real problems of the country.

Ekrem is also a very good party member, and so is Mansur... Both are CHP members and the decision made by the party will bind both of them.

MINIMUM WAGE PROPOSAL

The economy was managed so badly that we fell into great dilemmas, the minimum wage is too low for the receiver and too high for the giver... The process becomes difficult because we cannot produce value-added products. When you produce knitwear instead of electronic products, you are compared with countries where minimum wages are very low.

The purchasing power of the minimum wage has fallen to 10 thousand liras. Nowadays they are talking about a minimum wage like 21 thousand liras, it is not going to happen...

The minimum wage earner does not consume ping pong balls or copper cables, they consume essential food, and there is inflation reaching 80 percent here. At the point we have reached, there is no saving it if we do not give 35 thousand liras to the minimum wage earner.

Let there be a call for it to be at least 30 thousand liras, let's say that life in Turkey stops with a wage below this. Let all parties say this, let all unions say this...

Before the MHP became a partner of the government, they were saying very high figures, now they are not talking.

A minimum wage below 30 thousand liras is misery! It is necessary to keep this expectation alive.