CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's response to Erdoğan on 'internal party conflict': 'No such thing'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated that they are moving forward with a perspective that embraces history and draws the right lessons from it, adding that to read the world correctly, they have invited the committee that conducts the policy discussions and political work of the Socialist International to their party charter congress on September 4.

The Provincial Advisory Board Meeting, organized by the CHP Istanbul Provincial Branch at the Istanbul Congress Center, was attended by Özel, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, CHP Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, and former CHP chairmen Altan Öymen and Hikmet Çetin, who arrived arm in arm.

In his speech at the meeting, Özel noted that they would come to govern the country together, saying, "Some are waiting for us to argue, to fall into internal conflict and let them off the hook, to stop talking about the nation's issues and following Turkey's and politics' real agenda. They are waiting for us to turn on each other, so we leave them alone with their responsibilities despite their poor management. There is no such thing."

Reminding that after the election results on May 14 and 28 last year that saddened them, they expressed that they could succeed together, Özel said, "A change was needed for this. We said, 'If the CHP changes, Turkey changes,' and we set out with this belief. If we had described that change only as a change of individuals, it would have been an injustice and ungratefulness. We described it not just as a change of individuals or boards, but as a change of a mindset, an approach, a way of doing politics, and a way of setting goals for all of us at once."

Explaining that they emerged victorious from the election with the strength they received from the congress and the effort they put forth together, Özel said, "We will move forward together with a new understanding of the second century, embracing the revolutions of the first century while seeing the world, reading politics correctly both at home and abroad, without following anyone, self-confident, trusting our organization, and protecting our nation, by interpreting each principle in the six arrows as it should be in this age, embracing the past and interpreting it correctly for today. We will tell our nation that we are the voice of the voiceless, that the CHP is that voice, that every problem has a solution, and that the solution is in the CHP. We will reach power together with them."

"WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH A PERSPECTIVE THAT DRAWS LESSONS FROM HISTORY"

Özel stated that they would begin their congress on September 4, a historical anniversary, and continued as follows:

"We are moving forward with a perspective that embraces history and draws the right lessons from it. To read the world correctly, with a motion we submitted to the presidium of the Socialist International, where I serve as vice president, we invited the committee that conducts the policy discussions and political work of the Socialist International to our charter congress meeting. They will work with us there; they have contributed to our charter changes with good examples from around the world and will explain the subject there when necessary.

They will contribute to the roadmap we will present with successful examples from the world. Furthermore, with a meeting we will hold together on the last day, an Ankara Declaration will be issued, which, with reference to the CHP's success in the local elections that inspired all left-wing, socialist, and social democratic parties in the world, will integrate the values of 'Peace at home, peace in the world,' which we all defend, especially the Palestinian issue, into the institutional identity of the Socialist International. It will describe an approach, a stance, and a way to correctly explain their ugly face against the rising far-right in the world, while presenting our solution-oriented face and our good intentions."

Özel said that they would present the Ankara Declaration they will prepare at the UN high-level meeting to be held in New York at the end of September.

Expressing that they are being pulled into other debates through certain cunning tactics, Özel said, "I have nothing to say to those who participate in the debates that are brought up unintentionally, with old habits and reflexes, but it is clear that those who attempt to be part of bad intentions have no shared feelings with this hall, the future hope of this party, or the CHP government that this country deserves. I reject that lack of feeling from the root."

"THE CHP IS TURKEY'S LEADING PARTY"

Emphasizing that the CHP has become the leading party for the first time in 47 years, Özel said, "I would like to repeat a slogan that those who claim to support the truths done by the CHP until the election but argue that the work done since the election is not correct will hear a lot from now on: The CHP is Turkey's leading party."

Touching upon the steps toward normalization in politics in his speech, Özel continued his words as follows:

"Normalization means valuing and respecting those elected by the nation because of the nation, but it also means not remaining silent against a single wrong they commit, not staying quiet against a single injustice, and not leaving a single ant they crush alone. Because that ant has a brother, and that is the CHP.

Those who look at the polls and say, 'This normalization did not work for us,' seem to have convinced the holders of power, the partners of that power, and their leaders to tension, insults, and slander. In defiance of them, we will not comply. That pre-planned punch thrown at a member of parliament speaking in the nation's assembly and the insult directed at the member's mother have no other purpose than to drag the agenda into the polarization created by tension."

Özel concluded his words by saying, "The CHP will democratize, Turkey will democratize. The CHP will change, Turkey will change. The government in Turkey will change, people's futures will change, and their hopes will flourish. Just as it was 100 years ago, Turkey will repeat the success of a century ago in the second century as a country that the whole world looks at with admiration, is surprised by its momentum, and tips its hat to its determination."

"THIS PREPARATION IS A PREPARATION FOR POWER"

IMM Mayor İmamoğlu also noted that there is a valuable relationship process between the CHP and society that began in 2019 and strengthened significantly with the 2024 local elections.

Stating that citizens have clearly shown that they are ready to embark on a new path with the CHP, İmamoğlu said, "Our Turkey is on the verge of a great change. We know very well that all segments of society will emerge happy and gain from this change."

Saying that he believes the participatory mechanisms operated before the charter congress are yielding results, İmamoğlu said, "I believe our party is preparing in the best way possible to make common sense and the conscience of the nation prevail as the CHP. This preparation is a preparation for power. We do not have a single minute to spare for inward-looking agendas that are far from the people in this preparation."

CHP Provincial Chairman Çelik said at the meeting that the charter changes to be made at the charter congress to be launched on September 4 would be evaluated.

Çelik explained that work has been carried out in 39 districts of Istanbul to date for the charter change.

News Source: AA