CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's by-election move: 'My main agenda from today onwards'

Özel announced that he would meet with Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş to call for a by-election. Özel stated, "Once the decision for this by-election is made and this guarantee is established, we will have another very ambitious move regarding that matter as well."

Stating that he would meet with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Özel emphasized that they are open to any steps that would pave the way for the ballot box, both in Parliament and at the local level. Recalling the Can Atalay ruling, the appointment of trustees, and issues of democratization, Özel declared that his main agenda from now on is the "by-election ballot box."

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel held a press conference at his party's headquarters.

In his speech, Özel said, "If this great plane tree burns, the forest burns. Therefore, everyone should be careful about who is playing with fire and who is lighting a match with thinner in their hand. We are the party that brought this country, which emerged from fires, back to life from its ashes. Therefore, everyone should decide correctly where they stand, what they are doing to whom, who they are passing the ball to, and who they are threatening." He responded to a question regarding these remarks as follows:

"IT IS AIMED AT A BY-ELECTION"

It is aimed at a by-election. We are in days when the Constitution mandates a by-election. There is also a stance that the Parliament Speaker needs to take regarding the by-election. We will do our part in this regard, and we believe that a by-election ballot box should be established. Once the decision for this by-election is made and this guarantee is established, we will have another very ambitious move regarding that matter as well.

We will announce it to you on that day.

If the AK Party accepts, for example, if the AK Party agrees, we can have our municipal council members in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality resign together and start an election immediately.

We do not have this power in regions where trustees have been appointed. If they act together with the AK Party, elections could be held there as well. That is what we are saying.

Besides this, apart from this, they will now say, 'Özgür Özel mentioned a constitutional ballot box,' regarding how we intend to bring the ballot box before the nation, or rather, regarding the elections.

They won't spend three hours spinning lies and misinformation after all this talk. We are open to any kind of consensus on ballot boxes for general and local elections. Let them call for it, and let the nation decide wherever they choose.

A similar question was asked again with the words, 'You said you would have a meeting with the Parliament Speaker and that this would be a call for an early election or a by-election. I wanted to ask again to confirm if we understood correctly.' Özel responded as follows:

'FROM TODAY ON, MY MAIN AGENDA IS A BY-ELECTION'

'You understood correctly. I mean, I have an agenda focused on a by-election, and I have other agendas regarding Mr. Numan as well. He made the last visit, and I will go too. I have other agendas with the Speaker. Especially, since I have the opportunity to answer your question, let me say this: for example, they had the decision regarding Can Atalay read out.'

The Constitutional Court issued a new ruling stating that the read-out decision is null and void, but they did not have that read out. Can Atalay is being held for nothing. Now, 50 deputies signed a report chaired by Mr. Numan, stating that Constitutional Court rulings must be implemented in full. Well, the person who will do this is actually Mr. Numan. There is no point in signing a wish list with 50 people for something he is supposed to do himself. If that signature represents your will and the will of the entire parliament, then you should do your part in the committee you chair as soon as possible.'

'I mean, "one flower does not make a spring," but let the arrival of spring begin with the flower you allow to bloom. Let Can Atalay be released, then let the trustees be returned, and so on... I have such agendas as well. I would like to visit him as a belated holiday greeting. There are very important steps toward democratization in the 7th article of the report.'

Within this 7th article, there are steps toward democratization regarding trials without detention. They need to take initiative on this matter. These exist. But from today on, one of my main agendas is to bring the by-election ballot box to this nation's agenda. We have a two-phase plan regarding that.

The first phase is the phase you mentioned. The second phase consists of the steps we will take after a decision is made or after the political will on this matter becomes clear."

News Source: 12punto