Özgür Özel responds to 'pension' claims at Çekmeköy rally: 'I couldn't believe my ears'

Citizens gathered for the 83rd time since March at the rally held behind the IMM Çekmeköy Sports Complex in the Hamidiye neighborhood of Istanbul's Çekmeköy district.

Haldun Dormen, one of the cornerstones of Turkish theater who passed away today (January 21, 2026) at the age of 97 while undergoing treatment, was not forgotten at the CHP rally. A message of condolence for Dormen was read before the rally began.

FLASH STATEMENTS FROM CHP CHAIRMAN ÖZGÜR ÖZEL

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel arrived in Çekmeköy to deliver a speech following his attendance at a funeral ceremony in Manisa.

Özel began his remarks by stating that the rally was intended to be held on Şahin Bey Street, but the AKP Istanbul Provincial Presidency opposed this.

HE EXPOSED THE AKP'S RALLY TACTICS

Özgür Özel addressed the citizens who filled the square despite the cold weather:

"We wanted to be on Şahinbey Street today, but the AK Party Istanbul Provincial Presidency told the governor's office and the police, 'Do not grant permission; give them a square outside of Çekmeköy that they cannot fill. The people won't go in this cold, they will remain weak in that square.' I say to the police and the governor's office, who take orders from the AK Party: Look, see Çekmeköy!"

Recalling the efforts of the Istanbul Governor's Office to block actions during the March 19 process, Özgür Özel spoke about the intense support citizens have shown them:

"On March 19, they attempted a civilian coup. They detained not the CHP's, but Turkey's presidential candidate and the mayor elected by Istanbul. That day, we invited all of Istanbul to Saraçhane. That day, just like today, they immediately told the governor's office, 'Impose a ban, don't let them gather.' We said, 'This ban won't work, Istanbul will be in Saraçhane.'

"They closed the ferries, the roads, and the subways, but they couldn't stop the 110,000 lion-hearted people on the first night. On the evening of March 23, 1 million 100 thousand people were in Saraçhane. Now you say, 'I won't give them Şahinbey,' but will that crowd sit at home? Blessings and greetings to those who stand by their will, their candidate, and who pack this square to the brim."

"WE WORKED IN ÇEKMEKÖY, WE DETERMINED THE RIGHT CANDIDATE"

"Çekmeköy was established as a town attached to Ümraniye in 1994. It became a district in 2008. It elected its first mayor in 2009. The Republican People's Party had never won this district until the last election," said CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, adding, "However, we were neither offended nor hurt by Çekmeköy, nor did we find fault in Çekmeköy. We looked for the mistake and the fault in ourselves. We worked, we determined the right candidate. We entrusted Orhan Çerkez to you in the elections. You elected him with 50% of the vote. I thank each and every one of you."

"Before today, I came here on October 4, 2024, and held many openings; I attended a collective opening ceremony. Mayor Orhan has been serving this city, this district, since the day he was elected," the CHP leader stated, continuing his remarks:

"And he deserves appreciation for doing what they said couldn't be done, with his great efforts. It is impossible to count them all, but I must mention that a mayor who is this successful and works this hard has laid 36 thousand tons of asphalt, paved 8,800 meters of sidewalks and curbs, and built 2,900 meters of rainwater lines since the day he was elected."

Recalling a dialogue he had with Çekmeköy Mayor Orhan Çerkez, Özgür Özel said:

"I said that İnan Güney had implemented a water dispenser, school dispenser application for drinking water in schools within the borders of Beyoğlu. I told Mayor Orhan, 'Mr. Mayor, I expect this from you too.' Today, I was pleased to see that free purified water dispensers are being installed in 54 schools in Çekmeköy. They were installed from here, they are in all of them. He kept his word and says, 'I did it, Mr. Chairman.' Let's announce this to Turkey from here. School water is this: When the bell rings at school, children run in two directions. Those with money in their pockets, those who get good pocket money from their parents, run to the canteen. They drink good, quality water there to their heart's content. The others turn the other way, go to the bathroom faucets, and drink water from the tap in the bathroom. This is the populist municipalism of the Republican People's Party, which ensures that purified water and purification dispensers are placed in every school so that all children drink the same water, and that the rich and the poor are not separated even when they drink water when they are thirsty.

I salute my brother İnan Güney for this practice, which started in Silivri and which we have spread to all of Istanbul and all of Turkey, including Çekmeköy and Tuzla. I thank all the mayors, in the person of my Mayor Orhan Çerkez.

In addition, in line with the instructions given by the party, we provide regular cleaning services to all schools in the district. 7 nurseries were opened. The service our party values most; we started from scratch in the nursery practice, which brings women into employment, takes children into education at an early age, gains and develops their talents, and ensures that any deficiency is detected and intervened in early. So far, 7 nurseries have been opened, 4 are ready, and 11 of our nurseries are currently in operation. Together with the IMM's, we have increased our number of nurseries in Çekmeköy from zero to 13. They even named one after Gülşah Durbay, a child of our Manisa; I thank them from the heart.

Two have been opened, and five are waiting for the ribbon to be cut; 7 condolence houses, a Pensioner Culture House, a Women's Labor Market, and a Public Cafe have been put into service. Yaşar Doğu Social Facilities are in service. Two sports gym schools, one exclusively for women, were opened. A Women's Labor Center and a Barrier-Free Activity Center were established. Sesame Street was built where children can play safely. Food support is provided to approximately 10 thousand people in need. Construction of sports facilities, mosques, living and recreation areas, and a village market is nearing completion. A strong round of applause for Orhan Çerkez from his fellow citizens. Well done, Mr. Mayor.

Mayor Orhan is working for Çekmeköy, but another mayor is also working. Who is working? Mayor Ekrem! Our presidential candidate and Metropolitan Mayor had promised at the rally he held here; he had said, 'You stand by Mayor Orhan, and I will not take my hand off Çekmeköy.' If he were here tonight, he would have told you what he has done for Çekmeköy. Let me tell you: The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality provides cash assistance to 8,289 households in this district. It delivers food parcels to 23,600 families. It provides Halk Ekmek (Public Bread) support to 1,708 households. It delivers Halk Süt (Public Milk) to 5,400 children. It provided newborn support packages to 1,670 children. It provides baby nutrition support to 1,071 households."

"ERDOĞAN, THOSE WALLS OF YOURS MEAN NOTHING TO US"

"Transportation cards were given to 34,770 students. 4.4 billion in ISKI investments were made in infrastructure. 1.5 million seedlings were distributed in rural neighborhoods and old villages. Support for seeds, feed, fertilizer, fuel, and irrigation was provided. Serindere Valley of Life and Rahmi Demir City Forest were opened. Transportation was facilitated with new roads and parking lots. A Children's Art Center and an IMM Women's Center were opened. While these services were being provided, no one's party or opinion was looked at," said Özgür Özel, addressing AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with these words:

"That is why, no matter how much you keep Mayor Ekrem inside, he continues to work for you and for Çekmeköy. Because that wall, Erdoğan, that wall, those walls of yours mean nothing to us, nothing at all. That is why let's ask Çekmeköy now. We said in the 2024 elections, give your vote to Orhan Çerkez, you will not regret it. Give your vote to Mayor Ekrem, you will get the best service much faster. You made a decision. We said you would not regret it."

"Well, Erdoğan, you have your prosecutors. They have their claims and slanders. Those you unjustly imprisoned stay inside. But you are not in a position to do what this poor fellow of yours has done. I am in the square. I am among tens of thousands, I am face to face, and I am asking, are you satisfied? This is confident politics. Politics that trusts itself, trusts its friends, knows what it is doing, is for the people, and is among the people. The politics of warm halls in winter and cold halls in summer has come to an end. From now on, the Republican People's Party will continue to grow square by square. The fact that this square has reached this state, which they hoped would not be full tonight and hoped would humiliate us, is not a normal thing."

"There is no normal emotional state in Çekmeköy right now, in Istanbul right now. A change is happening, a revolution is happening, an era is closing, an era is opening. The era of ministers' children is ending, the era of the nation's children is beginning, the nation's children. Because no one is cowering anymore in the face of this great injustice. No one is standing on the sidelines. People never leave themselves out of this struggle. If there is still anyone who agrees with this struggle but sits at home, if there is anyone watching this square in their pajamas with the remote in their hand, I say to that person in pajamas, come out to the square, join us, we will change this order together, we will change it together."

"THE TOTAL OF THREE MINIMUM WAGES DOES NOT REACH THE HUNGER THRESHOLD OF 98 THOUSAND LIRA"

Touching on the economic difficulties of the citizens in his speech, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said, "Today, the total of three minimum wages does not reach the hunger threshold of 98 thousand lira. Today, even if four pensioners come together, they cannot exceed the hunger threshold, the poverty threshold of 98 thousand lira. New data has been released; the annual average income of the agricultural sector is 237 thousand lira. That is, the peasant farmer earns an average of 237 thousand lira per year," and continued:

"If we divide it by the month, it is 19 thousand 700 lira. In other words, the salary of 19 thousand lira, which is deemed appropriate for the pensioner, perhaps 20 thousand lira with a thousand lira increase, has unfortunately become the monthly income of those in the agricultural sector as well. In other words, this government has managed to equalize both pensioners, laborers, and farmers at the lowest level of poverty, at a monthly income of 20 thousand lira."

Mentioning the sit-in his party has been holding in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for pensioners, Özgür Özel said:

"Now, unfortunately, unfortunately, we are exactly in this situation. This night in the square has a special meaning. Let the pensioners in the square raise one hand so I can see. The number of pensioners is increasing, increasing. Now let the whole square applaud this rightful struggle of these pensioners so I can hear it. The lowest pension is 18 thousand 938 lira. We objected to this and said, let the parliament fix this; they said it wouldn't happen. 11-12 days ago, they got up and left. We asked where you were going, and we started a sit-in in the parliament not to leave the parliament for the pensioners. Since that day, the Republican People's Party group has been on a pensioner watch in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey."

PENSION SALARY RESPONSE TO ERDOĞAN

CHP Leader Özgür Özel, who reacted to the pension salary calculation made by AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at his party's Group Meeting, said, "When the AK Party came to power, the lowest pension was one and a half times the minimum wage. In other words, if they hadn't touched the pensioners at all, if they hadn't interfered, the lowest pension today would have been 42 thousand lira. But they played with the monthly accrual rates with the law they passed, 5510, and today the lowest pension has fallen to 0.7 of the minimum wage," and said the following:

"And today, and today, do you know what happened? The country's President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, went to the podium at his party's group meeting in the country's parliament, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and without any shame or embarrassment, told this lie. He said, 'When we came,' he says, said Özgür Özel, 'The lowest pension was one and a half times the minimum wage.' He said, 'When we came, the lowest pension was 66 lira, the minimum wage was 184 lira.' I couldn't believe my ears."

The CHP Chairman stated that the 66 lira Erdoğan mentioned was the Agricultural Bağ-Kur, and said:

"Dear Çekmeköy residents, when Erdoğan came, the minimum wage was 184 lira, the lowest SSK pensioner was receiving 257 lira, as I said, one and a half times. The lowest civil servant was receiving 376 lira, twice as much. So who was receiving 66 lira? There was something called Agricultural Bağ-Kur."

İMAMOĞLU ADDRESSED TENS OF THOUSANDS FROM SİLİVRİ

CHP's Presidential Candidate and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been imprisoned for 305 days, sent a letter to the citizens who gathered in Çekmeköy from the Marmara Prison in Silivri.

The letter written by İmamoğlu in his prison cell was voiced by CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik.

In his letter read by Çelik, İmamoğlu said:

“How beautiful you are, Çekmeköy, how beautiful you are, people of Çekmeköy! A huge hello from Silivri, one end of Istanbul, to Çekmeköy. Dear ladies, esteemed gentlemen, brave youth, my dear children; I embrace you with longing, I hug each and every one of you with yearning. My Mayor Orhan Çerkez, a true child of Çekmeköy, is exhibiting the most beautiful examples of the Republican People's Party's populist and action-oriented practices in this beautiful district of ours. I thank him; I congratulate him for serving the nation with heart and soul. I feel his brave companionship with all my heart.”

“WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED, WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TIRED SINCE THE DAY WE TOOK OFFICE”

“The people of Çekmeköy have known us very well since 2019 through the services we have provided to this beautiful district. Since the day we took office, we have never stopped, we have never gotten tired. We have served every point of Istanbul with the same care, the same love, and the same justice. We are the administration that has made the most comprehensive, largest metro investment in the history of Istanbul and Turkey. In this context, we have put the first stage of our Çekmeköy-Sancaktepe-Sultanbeyli metro line into your service. Our work on the second stage is continuing rapidly. We laid the foundation of the Taşdelen-Yenidoğan Junction to solve a major traffic problem on the Şile road. We never allowed stream beds and green areas to be sacrificed to zoning rent; we opened the Serindere Valley of Life and the Rahmi Demir City Forest. We brought our nurseries to our children and their families in our Hamidiye and Sultançiftliği neighborhoods. A 'Our Home Istanbul' nursery is also coming to our central neighborhood very soon. We delivered free Halk Süt (Public Milk) to our children. Our mothers became Anne Kart (Mother Card) holders. We provided scholarship opportunities to our youth and children. We offered support to our farmers and producers that they had never seen before. We stood by those in need and those in difficulty without any discrimination; we continue to do so.”

“THEY WILL GET THE REWARD TO THE END”

“We did not do these services to please one person, with the passion for a seat, or the ambition for a position. With all our strength, with all our patriotism, we worked only and only to give the nation's right to the nation. We will do much more throughout Turkey. First of all, we will establish a state structure that is based on justice; where institutions and rules are supreme, not one person. The state will be the guarantor of the rights and freedoms of everyone, not of some people or segments. Every citizen will have the conditions to live a humane and dignified life. Everyone will get the reward for their labor and sweat to the end. The laborers will get it, the pensioners will get it. In the field, in the workshop, in the office, in the factory... Wherever they are, all the producers and entrepreneurs of this country will have the healthiest and most profitable production, investment, and trade conditions.”

“WE WILL NOT LEAVE ANYONE HELPLESS”

“We will not leave anyone helpless in the face of the ruthless conditions of the market. Everyone will find the just, merciful, and strong hand of the state by their side. No one will feel alone, insecure, and by themselves. All the administrators of the state will know their place in front of the citizen. Our nation will know, see, and feel that it is the sole owner of this country and the state. The country will not be governed by the children of this or that party, but by the children of the nation. For all of us, we will succeed together. We will establish a humane and fair order where justice and freedom prevail for everyone, everywhere. Everything will be very beautiful. Everything will be very beautiful; because we are right, we will not give up. Everything will be very beautiful; because we will work very hard. Stay healthy. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Silivri Dungeon.”

News Source: 12punto