CHP Chairman Özel's assessment on the 'arrest': 'We see the game'

CHP Chairman Özel appeared on a Sözcü TV broadcast and made his first statement following the arrest decision. Stating, 'We see the game,' Özgür Özel spoke as follows:

"Get well soon to all of Esenyurt and Turkey...

Against the power of one person, there is a need for a collective mind and resistance, and for this reason, we have canceled all our programs. I will be in Istanbul early tomorrow. After making an assessment with Mayor Ekrem, I will make further statements.

Our mayors are also coming. We will be at the Esenyurt district headquarters around 13:00 and will hold our Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting; we will gather at the Esenyurt district headquarters to emphasize the importance of the issue.

We will gather around 13:00-13:30, and at 16:00, we are calling on the people of Istanbul and Esenyurt to come in front of the municipality to stand up for their mayor.

We had a camp in Antalya this weekend, which we also canceled; all our deputies will be in Esenyurt. Afterward, we will be in Istanbul until the weekend to discuss the Esenyurt issue primarily, as well as the developments regarding İmamoğlu's 'fool case' and our roadmap concerning these matters...

There will be legal and political assessments... It is not something this malicious mind would not do to continue the step that started with Esenyurt through the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). While standing up for Esenyurt, we will put forth whatever is required of us in the harshest way possible.

It has emerged from Erdoğan's endorsement that instead of a project of democratization and brotherhood, there is a secret bargain they have determined among themselves.

Erdoğan thanked me today, and I said, 'You misunderstood me'; we think differently from the AKP regarding the process in question.

It is understood today that by shelving democracy, relying on their harshness, and engaging in a give-and-take bargain with one person, they are trying to continue the constitutional logic for Erdoğan in exchange for the 'right to hope'; we cannot agree to this.

"THEY ARE PROPOSING A SOLUTION WHERE THEY WIN"

While we propose a solution that begins and ends with democracy, where there are no losers and everyone wins, and where the Republic of Turkey wins, they are proposing something where they themselves win and one actor wins.

The step they took today is also a part of this; let's commit a character assassination. This is a cheap and simple maneuver, a matter of condescension; you both thank someone and then take such an action against a mayor to whom you gave a clean record just 6 months ago.

They are continuing the legacy left by Fethullah Gülen, because they were like flesh and nail... They use it immediately; these actions do not represent a renunciation of inheritance from Gülen, they use it immediately.

"WE SEE THE GAME"

The move made here is a coup against the will of the Kurdish voters and is a matter of placing a mortgage on other wills in Istanbul. We see the game; Esenyurt is not just Esenyurt, we see that too.

We must manage this process first with the Central Executive Board (MYK) and then with our people, and we must demonstrate our will in the harshest and most deterrent way possible to force those who did this to step back from their stance.

All options are on the table; our issue is to do the right thing. Those facing us are operating with a malicious mind. We will not allow this. We will make our decisions and take our steps by discussing sufficiently in committees, without delay, but acting with common sense.

I invite everyone who objects to what is happening to gather in front of the Esenyurt Municipality at 16:00...

News Source: 12punto