CHP Chairman Özel: We resigned from the opposition on March 31

Speaking at the opening of the Izmit Municipality City Restaurant, which was put into service by the Izmit Municipality in the Mehmet Ali Paşa neighborhood, Özel said that CHP-run municipalities are providing standard municipal services perfectly.

Özgür Özel recalled that city restaurants began as a project by Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and noted that other mayors later brought this practice, which has been appreciated by citizens, to their own cities.

Stating that they were opening the second city restaurant in Izmit, Özel mentioned that this restaurant is the 45th one offered to the public by CHP-run municipalities.

Emphasizing that CHP-run municipalities will continue to open city restaurants, Özel said, "City restaurants have become such a brand that you will see in the coming days - I heard it in Gaziantep now - even AK Party-run municipalities are being forced to open public restaurants under different names because they cannot withstand the public's criticism of 'CHP is doing it, why aren't you?' because citizens, with today's difficulties and today's troubles, do not have the means to pay 150-200 liras for a 4-course lunch."

Stating that they will expand this service and other exemplary works, Özgür Özel described the projects implemented by CHP-run municipalities.

"AS CHP, WE RESIGNED FROM THE OPPOSITION ON MARCH 31"

Özel stated that the CHP has stopped being an opposition party and continued as follows:

"As the Republican People's Party, we resigned from the opposition on March 31. We told our nation, 'We are tired of the opposition, and you are tired of the government. Come on, let's change this. Make us the leading party, let us be the government, and let us save you from this government as soon as possible.' Our nation, thank goodness, showed wisdom and, with great foresight, entrusted the Republican People's Party, which will be Turkey's ruling party after the next elections, with 65 percent of the population, 78 percent of the economy, and 92 percent of tourism. They gave us the municipalities there.

The Republican People's Party is Turkey's leading party. Because of this, we no longer exhibit the reflexes of an opposition party. We are not telling anyone, 'Sir, we will resist, we will struggle, we will make your voice heard.' We see those who resist, we hear those who call out. We are implementing all our preparations with great struggle, great energy, great perseverance, and great determination to produce solutions for their work and their troubles. Undoubtedly, everyone in the country has a problem. Every problem has a solution, and its name is the Republican People's Party."

Following the speeches, Özel and the protocol members cut the opening ribbon of the City Restaurant.

PARK NAMED AFTER HASAN BİTMEZ OPENED

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel later attended the opening ceremony of a park in the Alikahya Fatih neighborhood, built by the Izmit Municipality, which was named after Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Hasan Bitmez, who passed away in the hospital after falling ill at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) last year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Özel recalled that he worked with Bitmez in Parliament and continued his words as follows:

"Hasan Bitmez, with his knowledge, experience, past life experiences, memory, political perspective, and kindness, was truly a name I said I got to know late. I shared this with him as well, and I told Mr. Temel. To be honest, I worked with the Saadet Party's staff in almost 60 provinces. We met people during the last election process who were extremely harmonious, who did their work with a sense of duty and a sense of cause, and who, once a handshake was made, stood by that agreement without seeking any other guarantee, knowing that a word is the greatest guarantee, and who provided the most sincere and diligent contribution to the joint struggle. It is my duty to express this here."

Özel stated that they experienced a great sadness and a great defeat together in the ongoing process, and said, "From the first day, we all digested the task given by the nation together. To do better for this country, we started working together in great harmony with the awareness that raising the voice of the opposition means raising the voice of the nation, raising the voice of the oppressed, and under today's conditions, raising the voice of Palestine, and we continue to do so."

"We experienced losing together on May 14 and May 28. I hope that in the future, we will succeed in winning together, making others win together, and being a remedy for this nation's troubles together," said Özel, noting that the alliances they made were based on principles.

Stating that Bitmez, whom he remembered with mercy and gratitude, represented justice and the righteous, Özel said, "He fought for a just cause until his last breath, for the cause of Palestine."

Özel added that Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was murdered by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, and that the memory of Eygi and Bitmez would live on in their hearts.

News Source: AA