First statement from Burcu Köksal, who did not heed Özel's rally call: 'I will not be at a rally where the DEM Party co-chair speaks'

While politics in Turkey is discussing the successive trustee appointments, particularly in Esenyurt, the CHP is showing its reaction through rallies held at the locations where these appointments were made.

Despite Özel's invitation to all CHP mayors to attend the protest rally held in Esenyurt, Mansur Yavaş, Burcu Köksal, and Tanju Özkan did not attend. While claims that this situation created a rift within the party were brought to the agenda, Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal clarified the process in a statement she made to tv100.

Köksal spoke as follows:

I am a citizen loyal to Atatürk, the republic, the homeland, the nation, and the flag. My understanding of statism is not partisanship; individuals and governments come and go, but the Republic of Turkey will remain forever.

I am an elected citizen who has engaged in politics thanks to the rights granted by Atatürk; therefore, I cannot be on the same side as those who do not stand for the National Anthem or those who do not rejoice in the national team's victory. My line is clear, the line of the Six Arrows...

In my philosophy of life and in every word I say, if there is a deviation from Atatürk's line, our people will withdraw their support. I always say this, and my Chairman knows it very well...

As for the rally, as a party, we are a party that has fought for rights, law, and justice for everyone and has gone down in history by marching for this cause. We are a party that even supported AKP mayors when they were forced to resign due to 'metal fatigue'; we are a party that fights for rights, law, and justice for everyone in Turkey...

I have fought this struggle in the CHP, and I will always continue to stand by rights, law, and justice!

I am against the trustee. It has been 7 months since I was elected, and why were these mayors nominated before? I am not declaring them guilty, but let's say they are guilty; why are the municipal councils being punished? Someone could be elected from here. I believe the presumption of innocence should be applied to everyone.

My stance against the DEM Party is clear, but the government's stance on the DEM Party is mixed. Do they want to walk together? The government's partner is calling APO to the Grand National Assembly, and there is not a peep from the government. The ruling party, the AKP, which does not have a clear stance here, should come out and explain its position. This is contradictory; I would have liked the economic problems being experienced to be discussed...

My stance toward the DEM Party is clear. As for our Chairman's invitation, I am carrying out a public duty as a mayor, and my programs are made in advance, and I act accordingly...

HAS THERE BEEN A STANCE AGAINST YOU FROM THE PARTY AFTER THIS REACTION YOU SHOWED?

I will not be at a rally or on a bus where DEM Party members are present and their co-chair is speaking! My stance against DEM is clear; this is my opinion. The CHP is a democratic party where diverse ideas are discussed.

My red line is Atatürk. I am a citizen who works day and night to reach the goal he set. I am a person who is proud to believe in the Six Arrows and to walk on the path Atatürk walked...

I love the CHP very much. Atatürk has two great works: one is Turkey, the other is the CHP... Therefore, I do not have to love or sympathize with another party. Just as my distance from the DEM Party does not concern anyone, their closeness does not concern me...

We express our ideas in the party's authorized bodies, we state what our thoughts are, and they are discussed.

SHE COMMENTED ON CHP MEMBER ALI HAYDAR FIRAT'S PROPOSAL TO 'SUSPEND MEMBERSHIPS'

A member of our party assembly said he would propose that our memberships be suspended. I would like to remind you that we are a party with many voices, and ideas are discussed. The right to suspend a mayor's membership cannot be based on such rhetoric, and there is no such thing in our party charter.

I think this friend is saying these kinds of things to get on the agenda. Ali Haydar Fırat's relationship with the DEM Party does not concern me, and my approach to DEM does not concern him!

Everyone has to respect my opinion, and I respect everyone's opinion.

SHE ANSWERED THE QUESTION ABOUT HER TWEET: "I DETERMINE WHERE AND WHEN I WILL BE, NOT OTHERS"

The AKP provincial chairman made a statement. When I did not attend the rally, he said, 'Mayors who want to deceive nationalist voters like Köksal did not attend the rally.' I said, 'You have uniformity, you don't understand this; you implement whatever the top says,' and I tweeted this to explain that. I already explained my views on the previous opening at the end of it, and I made posts about the AKP's FETÖ stance.

No one from the headquarters called about this either; everyone knows my stance very well. I am walking on Atatürk's path, and I will continue to walk on his path until my last breath. My family is CHP, and I am teaching this to my child!

WHY DID YOU REMOVE YOUR PHOTO WITH THE POLICE CHIEF?

A consultant manages my social media accounts. As for the photo, we could not find anything regarding it being deleted or shared. It is claimed that my photo with our provincial police chief was removed; my post remains in places other than X. The photos are still on my other accounts. It might be a problem caused by the workload. If there were such an intention, we would not share it, or we would delete the frames on our other accounts as well.

I couldn't believe it when I saw Mr. Bahçeli's statement. If a CHP member used these sentences, our buildings would be stoned, and we would be lynched. I couldn't believe it; I said, 'What is the terrorist leader doing in the Grand National Assembly'...

ISN'T ÖZGÜR ÖZEL IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE DEM PARTY'S CO-CHAIR?

The CHP is fighting for justice for everyone. You can support the DEM Party; I respect that. This is my opinion and stance! Özgür Özel knows this stance of mine and respects it. Everyone in the CHP knows my stance. You can call me an Atatürk nationalist; my thoughts and behaviors bind me, and my contribution to the CHP's struggle for power binds me.

WHAT KIND OF REACTIONS DID YOU RECEIVE AFTER YOUR LAST POST?

I am a CHP member, and I hope to remain in the CHP until I die... I became a candidate for the Afyonkarahisar Municipality upon the proposal of Mr. Özgür Özel and the requests of my party friends, and I won. I don't know where politics will take me after this, but I don't have any thoughts like a presidential candidacy. I will continue to work with all my might for my party's candidate to be elected. I dream of a Turkey where economic problems are solved and everyone lives in peace.

DO YOU THINK DEM IS THE POLITICAL EXTENSION OF THE PKK?

Regardless of which party or person it is, I will not be side-by-side with those who cannot call a terrorist organization a terrorist organization. Whether it is the PKK, DAESH, or FETÖ, whatever organization it may be. I have always been against terrorist organizations. I will continue to fight against terrorism.