He had been referred to disciplinary action... Tanju Özcan: 'I will make a defense that will go down in history'

Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan of the CHP was referred to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for a 'reprimand' by a unanimous decision of the Central Executive Board (MYK), following his social media post asking, 'Are you God or a cult leader?', directed at the party's former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Making statements regarding his referral to the High Disciplinary Board, Mayor Özcan said, “I respect the MYK's decision at this stage. The MYK did not issue me a reprimand as a result; it referred me to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for a reprimand. From now on, the High Disciplinary Board will request my defense. I will make a verbal defense that will go down in history. We emerged from the elections successfully. The current MYK and our chairman have made the party the number one party in Turkey.

We won many municipalities. I have seen that some are trying to turn my posts into polemical material to push aside the economic agenda and retirement issues. Of course, I do not find the MYK's decision correct, but I have decided not to discuss this in front of the public. I will explain to the High Disciplinary Board with justifications that this penalty is unfair, and I believe I will convince them. I am not a man who runs away from a fight. But in order not to harm my party, which is walking with firm steps toward power, I have decided to share my comments on this issue only with the High Disciplinary Board's decision. I will not make any statement to the public regarding this matter. I am doing this with the thought that Turkey's economic agenda, the problems of retirees, and minimum wage earners can be discussed,” he stated.

Mayor Özcan stated that he had not held any meetings with CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding the matter, and spoke as follows:

“During this process, I held meetings with some party officials. I did not receive any pressure on this issue from the headquarters management. Some party elders who are currently outside the party and party members I trust very much have suggested, ‘Mr. Mayor, you may be right, but AK Party members and trolls are taking these mutual tweets in different directions, causing Turkey to drift away from its real agenda. Let's not continue this.’ The MYK and the party chairman may need to take steps on some issues. They might think differently on this matter, but they may have felt that they needed to take action. The CHP is a party where expressions can be voiced more freely compared to other parties. Our rhetoric has found a great response in society. Our rhetoric regarding asylum seekers and the way we explain Turkish nationalism have found a great response in society.”

'I THINK I CAN CONVINCE THE HIGH DISCIPLINARY BOARD'

Stating that he thinks he can convince the High Disciplinary Board, Özcan said, “If I cannot convince them, a strange situation will arise. There are already 4 penalties in the party. During Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's time, I received a warning penalty due to my rhetoric about Syrians. I received a temporary expulsion for one year, and a permanent expulsion. Only a reprimand was left, and we will have received that too. May it be for the best, but I will continue to remain a soldier of this party. The High Disciplinary Board can give a lower penalty. It may give no penalty at all. At most, it will give a reprimand. If I receive a reprimand, the path to the judiciary is open. I will look at the justification; if the justification is truly valid, I will then look at whether or not to go to the judiciary,” he said.

News Source: 12punto