Striking comment from Özgür Özel on 'Erdoğan's candidacy': Let him dream

Özel answered questions from Mehmet Akif Ersoy during a live broadcast on Habertürk TV.

Here are the highlights from CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's statements:

We have an important agenda regarding the injustices faced by the CHP, the disrespect shown to Turkish democracy through the CHP, the disrespect to the voter, and the voter's reaction to the attempted coup against the will of the electorate, in a place where the agenda changes very rapidly and there are macro agendas. The intense flow of the agenda does not create a focus problem for us from time to time, but it is risky in terms of narrowing the space within the agenda. The other risk is that it is not right to remain indifferent to those agendas and get stuck in our own agenda while there is such a critical agenda. We have to follow a resilient, persistent policy on the fine line where the two touch each other.

"IT MEANS THINGS ARE GOING WELL IN THE CHP"

We are not doing politics to hear praise or to invalidate criticisms. We stand where we know is right. From time to time, when you hear analysis in the past between 2002-2007, the Justice and Development Party sets the agenda, and politics is shaped. At the breaking points of politics, the Justice and Development Party catches the agenda from the right direction, etc. Now, if Mr. Bahçeli is so busy with the CHP, its chairman, its presidential candidate, and its mayors, it means things are going well in the CHP. The CHP is Turkey's leading party. In Turkey, the government and the opposition have swapped places. Currently, the CHP is the ruling party of politics. We have two rivals who oppose us. One is the Justice and Development Party, and the second is the MHP. Because they have dominated politics for a long time. Because they generally hold the position of the ruling party in central politics. They are also doing things to disrupt the CHP's leadership stance, its agenda-setting stance, and its stance of marching toward power.

"A FAIR POLITICAL STRUGGLE IS NOT BEING WAGED"

I do not object to this; in fact, I am pleased with it. But one must remain on the ground of law and fairness. Let them criticize the CHP harshly, let them express all their reactions against the CHP. Let them do this fairly and on the ground of politics. To put it clearly, our Constitution states the rule of law. The rule of law is established by judges and prosecutors. They have constitutional guarantees. It is said that if a judge or prosecutor tries to enter politics, even if any prosecutor becomes a candidate for any political party, they cannot return to their duty. For example, a judge who signed the decisions for Gezi, Demirtaş, Selçuk Kozağaçlı, and Canan Kaftancıoğlu had turned to politics after his judgeship, and Mr. Tayyip had made him a deputy minister. What kind of position is a deputy minister? I am quoting from Mr. Tayyip: 'Ministers are technical, deputies are political. Our deputy ministers will provide the necessary communication with the organization,' he had summarized. A significant portion of deputy ministers are extremely political figures. A former judge was a deputy minister. He took that deputy minister and made him the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul. A politician is coming to the most important place where justice should be distributed on behalf of all of us. According to the Constitution, it is forbidden, he cannot come. If you were my deputy and I said, 'I will appoint the deputy minister as chief prosecutor,' you would say, 'Mr. Özgür, we cannot do this; once a person becomes political, they are not allowed to return to the courthouse.' This position of deputy minister did not exist when this constitution was written. If a fair struggle were being waged against us within the ground of politics, I would welcome it. We would answer all of them.

"I AM READY TO DO WHATEVER FALLS TO ME AND MY PARTY"

This should not be the case, regardless of what is done, whether it comes to me or goes from me. Using politics and the judiciary as a tool and hoping for benefit, the AK Party might have been harmed and we might have come out profitable when the resistance grew. I object to this process. We are in historical consistency. Let's not be unfair; when the first opening process started, we said, 'We will give credit to this process.' Erdoğan had said, 'Take your credit and beat yourself with it.' He made a fundamental mistake there, and we objected to it. We want terrorism to end. The MHP was saying, 'What do you say to a Turkey without terrorism?' Yes, I want a Turkey without terrorism. The PKK was a terrorist organization; it announced that it would lay down its arms and dissolve itself. If this can be achieved, I would find it very valuable. I am ready to do whatever falls to me and my party on this matter. If this is achieved, there will be no martyrs, and neither Turkish nor Kurdish mothers will cry. Millions and trillions of dollars of this country will not go to weapons, ammunition, and arms dealers of the world's developed countries. Especially when the CHP is ready to govern the country, this money will flow to retirees, workers, industry, students, R&D, and innovation. In this case, why shouldn't I defend a Turkey without terrorism? Whoever defends a Turkey without terrorism, we defend one more than that.

"THE PROCESS WAS NOT CONDUCTED TRANSPARENTLY AND PARTICIPATORILY"

When we look at what the conditions for a Turkey without terrorism or the success of ending terrorism are, the Justice and Development Party, the MHP was completely against it at that time, and the AK Party forcibly pushed the CHP against it as well. By excluding the political institution, 3 people assigned by Erdoğan met with 3 people requested by Abdullah Öcalan. Because social consensus could not be achieved at the end of the process, the issue exploded. What happened next? We gave 249 martyrs in the trench incidents. Because we could not succeed that day, we gave so many martyrs and lost so much money. This means that the most important platform where this can be sought is parliament, on a ground where not one political party but all political parties can unite, and social consensus can be sought. With the participation of all parties. You will carry out such a process; in this process, some officials from the state may take a role, and preliminary negotiations may be held. You cannot expect all the actors to be elected and directly authorized through official channels. The intelligence agency goes and meets. Some progress is made there. That place needs to be questioned a lot. Later, it needs to share information sincerely with all political actors. This failed. Mr. Devlet said, 'If you are being "DEM-ed"' regarding the fact that we greet each other in Parliament and talk when we need to, which he said to Erdoğan in 2014, and Erdoğan said to him, 'You are a vampire feeding on blood.' We learned it with Devlet Bahçeli's reaching out and then talking about the right to hope. Devlet Bahçeli has been saying whatever comes to his mouth for years. He does us so much injustice. While doing this, he does this. The state presses the button, and Mr. Devlet turns 180 degrees. I do not find such inorganic politics correct. Some appointees have finished everything and pressed the button. While making the heaviest insults, he reaches out and shakes hands. If the opening of the first flower that will start this spring is it, then so be it. The process was not conducted transparently, and the right steps toward the social consensus phase were not taken. The process of informing other parties remained incomplete. The business turned into something like this. I said to dear Sırrı Süreyya Önder, 'Those who succeed in this business in the world do not do it this way.' He said, 'Chairman, we tried last time; our goal was peace, then we did the solution, it didn't work, now first solution then peace.' I said, 'Then this process needs to be opened to parliament.' Today, that is the friction between DEM and the AK Party. Mr. Erdoğan tells AK Party deputies, 'Go and tell Turkey.' It is said, 'The nation should not think that they are bargaining, they should not think that there is an agreement.'

"CHP IS BEING DEMONIZED"

They were saying, 'A Turkey without terrorism means the unconditional laying down of arms.' Today, the statements made by Ahmet Türk and Tuncer Bey were important. They say that this business needs confidence-building measures and scheduling. When this is said, the Minister of Justice says something else. Now, due to vote concerns, the AK Party and MHP are conducting a process by excluding the opposition and demonizing the CHP, both to leave it ownerless and so that no one shares this success if it is to be successful. The nation sees this. We see this in the polls. What is being tried to be done to the CHP is correctly understood by the nation. The MHP needs a new enemy. Before this, DEM was the devil, now they have become friends with DEM, which they should be, it is correct. No party is the devil.

"THIS IS NOT A MATTER TO BE SACRIFICED TO POLITICS"

We are not saying 'no' to a Turkey without terrorism. This is not a matter to be sacrificed to politics. We lost a lot when we failed at this last time. I find it important to support this process sincerely with great patience, caution, and care. If they told me, 'We are establishing a commission, bring the democratization package,' I am ready. We want blood and tears to stop in this country, and money to be spent on the right path. Since we are currently in the opposition, we are not saying let's infect or sabotage this. If this government cannot manage the process, we give the guarantee that we will solve the Kurdish issue through democratic means during our own government. If they decide to solve it today, we are there on the ground of Parliament.

"TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS SHOULD END"

We have a complete preparation. We are ready to share when the right ground is created. Our friends have completed the preparation phase for our commission to provide that information to whichever party requests it. If confidence-building steps are to be taken, there is the trustee article. They have appointed trustees to Turkey's largest district, Esenyurt, and a metropolitan city like Van. 49 trustees were appointed during the last election period. There is a joint legislative proposal of 11 political parties on this issue. There is a proposal signed by all political parties except the AK Party-MHP bloc. Let's start buttoning the first button from here. Everyone whose mayor they voted for has had a trustee appointed. Ahmet Özer for Esenyurt, another for another, we can start by saying that a positive trend has started here. In the continuation, some laws need to be changed, some laws need to be redone, and the abuse of some legal articles needs to be ended immediately.

"WE SAY LET'S SOLVE THIS TOGETHER"

Instead of one party framing this, technical people to be assigned by the parties on the democratic ground that the Speaker of the Parliament will create need to determine the framework. Instead of red, white, and green lines, social consensus needs to be sought. We are saying that the families of martyrs should also be in one of those seats and their consent should be obtained. The families of martyrs view this approach of the CHP positively. We say, 'Come, let's take this out of the conflictual area of hot politics this time and solve it all together, let it be a process where the Republic of Turkey is the winner and there is no loser.' It has almost 95 percent representation in parliament. It is important in that respect. Parties left outside are important. For example, the Zafer Party has no deputies, it must be invited. Mr. Destici must be called and his opinion taken. You set up a table, if you invite, those who come will come, those who don't will not. There will be those who come and state their criticisms, and those who offer solutions from their own perspective. First, negotiation, solution, discussion, and the establishment of a democratic table are needed. We need to look for the truth for Turkey. There is no other way.

"WE EXPLAIN TURKEY'S JUST THESES"

We are the main opposition party in Turkey. We are the future ruling party in the coming elections. We hope so. We are Turkey's party abroad. There are those who are surprised that I defend Turkey's interests. There is nothing more normal than me defending Turkey. I will stand in the right place in Cyprus and Azerbaijan. I will talk about the issue regarding the Aegean islands, I will talk about full EU membership. 89 parties from 77 countries, the Prime Minister of Spain is in Istanbul for 5 days. We are trying to issue a declaration here that gives significant support to Turkey's full membership. I will make a speech there. We did not see the visa problem of our students, businessmen, patients, and academics in those meetings without talking about it. The refugee problem, for example. Merkel and Erdoğan shook hands, you locked up 4.5 million refugees, you are driving them to safety, there is no such thing. The ownership of the TRNC, for example. I am adopting Turkey's basic theses. I made my first trip abroad to Cyprus. Most fundamentally, Turkey currently stands at the point of a two-state solution. Apart from this, whether it is the Annan Plan or every time, the Turkish Cypriot has taken a step and been left with his hand in the air. We are explaining Turkey's just theses. We have such a thesis on the Cyprus issue. I explained this to the Greek ambassador as well. I explained it to the leaders in the umbrella structure of left-socialist parties in the European Parliament. I said, you say that for Turkey to enter the EU, it should not come without solving the Cyprus issue. My primary school teacher had told me this: if the first question is difficult, don't waste time struggling with it, start with the simple questions. Let's leave this, we have world issues that we can solve before the Cyprus problem. Let's walk, is Cyprus the last thing left? While solving this problem, there was a two-state solution. Let's say we took Turkey and Northern Cyprus and made them full members. There is no longer a border. They have a joint army, the currency has become the Euro. Whose problem is left? If you bring them together under the same EU flag in full membership to the EU, it solves itself. Why talk about the impossible at first? My grandmother was born in Thessaloniki. The Cyprus Ambassador came in the morning. I said, 'Grandmother, I didn't drink your coffee, I waited for you.' Let's talk about our partnerships, not the fight first, we will solve the problem when the day comes. Let's button the simple buttons below, we will button this last.

"THEY ASK WHAT IS HAPPENING, WE EXPLAIN"

89 parties from 77 countries have signed twice so far. They say once from Istanbul, from the CHP government, that they fully support Turkey's EU membership. They are curious about what is happening in Turkey. And we explain. There is a coup process in Turkey. Just like the coup process experienced on July 15. Mr. Erdoğan knocked on our door and said, 'Let's explain this to the world together.' And we supported it. We are explaining this now. This is Mr. Erdoğan's most comfortable outfit. He will do whatever he knows. Then 'Don't complain about us abroad.' If there is a coup attempt in a country in the world. If someone suspends democracy, if they suspend election results, this is the problem of the international community. All democratic societies of the world have an obligation to be in solidarity with each other.

"ELECTION RESULTS WERE SUSPENDED"

For example, when they did this to DEM in previous periods, trustees were appointed to 49 municipalities. If the AK Party gets a taste of it, it continues. If we do not show the necessary reaction now, if we do not explain correctly that this is a conspiracy, and if we surrender to this, the rest will come. Currently, 6 of our mayors are under arrest in Istanbul. Esenyurt has a population of 1 million. Şişli is the same. Trustees were appointed in Şişli and Esenyurt. Let's look at the account. As we woke up on the morning of March 19, what kind of morning did we wake up to? Ekrem İmamoğlu first became a candidate in Beylikdüzü, he took it from the AK Party. This was his first victory. He was a successful mayor. 5 years later, we showed him as a candidate for Istanbul. İmamoğlu, who took Beylikdüzü from the AK Party after 25 years, this time took the IMM. With the contributions of the satisfaction of the AK Party and MHP voters in Beylikdüzü, he defeated the country's last prime minister, the Speaker of the Parliament who is still in office. He defeated a brand name like Binali Yıldırım. He defeated the person Erdoğan trusted the most. It was a big shock for them. They could not do what İsmet Pasha did in 1950. He did not say, 'This is the democratic sign of the AK Party era.' It was said, 'The votes were tainted, there are 41 FETO members at the ballot box.' 45 days after this decision, the nation said, 'I am the boss' with a difference of 806 thousand. The AK Party has an indigestion problem. İmamoğlu managed it for 5 years. 300 inspectors are on top of him day and night. Soylu confiscated the corruption files that İmamoğlu revealed, they still haven't opened the cover. Then there was another election. The AK Party brought out Murat Kurum, the name it trusts most in urbanism. 17 ministers, one vice president, and the President worked here day and night. İmamoğlu increased the difference to 1 million 100 and became president again.

İMAMOĞLU'S DIPLOMA CANCELLATION DECISION

First, 6 months pass. The results of this come as polls. Satisfaction is high. In Tayyip Bey's mentality, it is 'He who loses Istanbul loses Turkey.' Ekrem İmamoğlu won Istanbul, he will win Turkey. Upon this, he says shake it spiritually and legally. He appoints a Chief Public Prosecutor to Istanbul as a politician. That friend says, 'Bring me the files of such and such affiliate.' Friends bring the files. 'What is this, so many,' he says. 'Bring the pre-2019 ones,' he says. If you are looking for the law, why pre-2019. Someone is giving a statement. While talking about the work he did with the municipality, he mentions corruption regarding the previous period. 'I am not looking at that period,' he says. Let them deny it, I challenge them. Let them say we did not return the pre-2019 files in the retrospective files. Mr. Chief Prosecutor has come for a political operation. Imagine a chief prosecutor, he writes a letter to Istanbul University. For the cancellation of the diplomas of İmamoğlu and his classmates. When time passes, the prosecutor writes a 'hurry up' letter. In his first letter, he writes a letter for 'what is necessary to be done.' It is said, 'We requested that what is necessary be done, including the cancellation of the diploma.' He wants the cancellation of 28 diplomas given 31 years ago. This document is given to official institutions, including the YSK. So it is so clear that he is busy with İmamoğlu and is assigned to prevent his candidacy. The university is sent to the faculty that gave the diploma. When the dean does not accept, the dean changes. On Tuesday evening, at the time of iftar, the diploma is cancelled from an unauthorized place that has nothing to do with the subject, has nothing to do with the business school, from the Istanbul University Board of Directors. Isn't this lawlessness? Tayyip Bey is a double-stitcher, he is a solidist. Maybe the Council of State will overturn the administrative action taken. Then they are walking from this side too. Let me tell you something sincere, when I explained this injustice, this diploma cancellation, especially 35 years ago, he was called with a newspaper advertisement. In 2020, he applied for cancellation and it was said 'it is in accordance with the procedure.' His only crime is that the diplomas of 28 people who are İmamoğlu's classmates are gone. One of them is the dean of Galatasaray University. Well, what will happen to so many students to whom this professor gave diplomas? Am I wrong? Our roadmap is to protect the ground of moral superiority. To keep the psychological superiority and the energy it creates alive. I explained this issue to a newspaper with a circulation of 8.5 million in Japan, his mouth remained open. I explained it to The Guardian, his mouth remained open too. When the doors of universities in Turkey were closed to my veiled sisters, I was protesting with them at Ege University. Whatever they were aiming for when they went door to door in Europe and explained this, whatever they were aiming for when they went door to door in Europe when the AK Party was closed, we are aiming for the same thing.

CHP'S BOYCOTT CALL

I didn't do Espresso, Varank did. The owners say when did Varank come and drink coffee here. After that, these things happened. Espresso Lab was not on our list. Our boycott was limited. In one of the world's most important metropolises, we filled 1 million 200 thousand people in the middle of the night. There are television channels that do not see this. I am giving news. I am saying it for NTV. Journalists I love very much work at NTV. He zoomed in the camera and showed my face, he gives the most sterile part of the 1.5-minute speech. Brother, give a drone image. 70 percent of them earn money from us. I said we will boycott, especially TRT, ahaber, Turkuaz, and Demirören Group. Young people were jumping as Espresso Lab this time. It is said that there are coffees in the canteens of foundation and state universities that sell the modest coffee that these young people love at an affordable price. They say they have come and rented these places, and they have increased coffee prices a lot. Young people were upset that the modest tradesmen there were leaving. They would already boycott in their own way. When thousands of students jumped, it came here. CHP members first came from Vatan Security. All university students came. Should I break them upon this? When Espresso Lab reached us, I said, 'Win the hearts of the young people, I will take you off the list.' If they give a discount, I will take them off. Young people were doing a consumption boycott. First, they said the boycott didn't hold, with the Central Bank report, it was understood that trade fell by 50 percent that day. On one side, empty mall images, on the other side, market images where ministers shop. That's why we supported the general consumption boycott for 1 day for the sake of the young people. Let the young people say support tomorrow, I will support. We speak the same language. If I issue a decision about their boycott in the socialist international tomorrow, let them not be surprised. You connect to the rally, you do honest broadcasting for 15-20 minutes, you go out and do another broadcast. What if I continue the boycott? Sell the car to me, to my voter, sell the food, the drinks to our voter, then don't give our broadcast, go and serve the other side, where is the abundance of this yogurt?

WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT WITH İMAMOĞLU?

We are talking about our dream of Turkey in the future with İmamoğlu. Today, we talked about who will represent the party in the management of the Presidential Campaign Office. Let's do the shadow ministries in the office, from the shadow ministries in the MYK, from our group. Designing the process together, how do we convey possible projects most accurately? We are talking about judicial processes. We are talking about our children. After all, we are very good friends, we are beyond brothers. I called the people who were inside on Mother's Day. We are a family that loves each other. I talked to the daughters of the general manager of our Medya A.Ş. We gave each other morale. Everything is recorded there.

"I DO NOT FAIL IN RESPECT TO KILIÇDAROĞLU"

Mr. Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu came to the last congress and applauded my speech standing up, he was quite good. Mr. Chairman has no obligation not to upset or break me. I have an obligation not to break or upset him. I try to inform him in all processes. We did not fail in respect to our previous chairmen. This dagger issue needs to be clarified. Kemal Bey says I entered with daggers in my back on election day. He cannot be referring to a CHP member here. On the day of the election, Mansur Yavaş, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Özgür Özel, who put themselves forward the most, we put our lives on the line. Kemal Bey is referring to something else. He is talking about some crises in the candidacy process. While Kemal Bey was there, I said, 'I am not taking this dagger on myself or anyone else.' He cannot be saying that to Ekrem Bey either.

"THERE IS A LAW OF BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN US"

Our relationship with Mr. İmamoğlu will not break. A relationship based on the law of brotherhood, trust, and giving strength to each other. An understanding that accepts each other's child as our own child. There is a law of brotherhood between us. Our common goal is the salvation of Turkey. People have pinned their hopes on us. In the last election, we made a simple political reading. The voter expects self-criticism from politics after this failure. We gave that self-criticism. The congress process and the new restructuring were accepted as the self-criticism given by the CHP, and a new credit was given. We took this credit, we set up a simple system. There have been 3 locks on us since 1970. Youth, women, science, knowledge, wisdom. We determined the election song by having polls conducted. We played the music to every voter group. We nominated plenty of women and plenty of young people. We achieved the greatest success in political history. We won the municipalities as the CHP. We continue to walk on this path. We didn't stab each other in the back, we didn't play tricks. No matter who tries to sow discord over this matter. Someone comes out to the government media, conspiracy theory, slander, insult. We are not busy with any of these.

CANDIDACY PRIMARY IN CHP

Tayyip Erdoğan enters the party's congress as the sole candidate, don't you set up a ballot box and vote? If you prevent the other candidate, there will be a democratic scandal there. We said that the CHP will determine the Presidential candidate. There is someone assigned in Istanbul who attacks the party incredibly and tries to prevent İmamoğlu's candidacy. We said let's determine it with the participation of 1 million 750 thousand people opened by the CHP. We also informed Mr. Mansur. He said, 'Mr. Chairman, I do not disparage the primary, I say I find the time early, I will most likely not enter the primary.' He already went and voted in the primary. How did it turn out how right we were? We will determine the candidate on the 23rd, he does an operation 4 days ago on the 19th, he gives 4 days of detention custody. 4 days later is the time when the ballot boxes will be set up. At that hour, he brings him before the judge, then takes him and puts him behind iron bars in Silivri. This doesn't happen in Italian mafia movies. We are already demanding an early election, the candidate for the early election is determined early. On October 9, they appointed a politician as Chief Public Prosecutor to Istanbul. In 21 days, they call the person who bought an apartment from Ekrem Bey 20 years ago in Beylikdüzü and call him for an interview. 'Did you give money to the bank openly?' it is asked. Attacks on Ekrem Bey's wife, friends, environment, and close relatives. Attacks on Esenyurt, Beşiktaş, and other municipalities. One each from the 10 municipalities they took from the municipal councils, which they call city consensus. City consensus says, 'I will win where I will win, I can support in other places if they are not going to commit a city crime.' Istanbul Alliance, Kadıköy Alliance, Turkey Alliance. We have a letter. I say to the mayors, 'Alliance between parties was not possible, we will form an alliance at the ballot box. We will propose names who have done politics in the past in the AK Party, MHP, DEM Party. These are the opinion leaders of the society, do not object to them.' Now there is no problem when these are in the AK Party. They found one person with a DEM past from every district in big Istanbul, they are detaining them. They are appointing trustees to Şişli and Esenyurt. That day, 1 million 200 thousand people could not do it because we took hold of the fate of the country in Saraçhane. Now friends are thanking the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, by calling him 'founding leader' separately. While criminalizing a Kurd's entry into the municipal council. We said let's make our Presidential candidate in the most participatory way. Those who do the operation are doing an operation on the person Tayyip Erdoğan is worried about defeating. In the group meeting, I said 3 weeks ago, 'A coup mechanism is working.' I said there is a coup attempt against the future President of the Republic of Turkey. 3 weeks ago. They have darkened their eyes, they are doing an operation to prevent Ekrem İmamoğlu's Presidential candidacy. And I say, come and take the candidate of 1 million 750 thousand people. He also says rest to rest, 'I took it.' And the nation is demonstrating that you cannot take it.

WHAT IS ÖZEL'S EARLY ELECTION PLAN?

A by-election cannot be held without 30 months passing. It cannot be held in the last 1 year. A by-election is held once for empty seats. For this, the Parliament must make a decision. Finally, with the loss of Süreyya Önder, 8 parliamentary seats are empty. If an electoral district becomes completely empty, immediately for that region. If 5 percent of the parliament, 30 deputies, become empty, a by-election must be held. Since a by-election will be held for 8 deputies in November anyway. There is no need for 22 people either. For example, if we take Turkey to a by-election by emptying 1 deputy each in the geography of Turkey. If we put the ballot box in front of the government that runs away from the ballot box. The AK Party does not accept resignation to avoid being weighed in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, and Samsun, and is afraid of the election.

"OUR A, B, C, Z PLAN IS İMAMOĞLU"

They cancelled his diploma. An application was made to the regional administrative court. There is a request to stay the execution. It won't take very long. He regains his candidacy for it to stop. Currently, the concrete obstacle is the diploma. It can be eliminated with a stay of execution. There is an appeal and Supreme Court stage. I do not find it correct to talk about an option other than Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy for now. Recently, on a channel, the journalist was insisting a lot. Our Z plan is Ekrem İmamoğlu. The candidate cannot even change himself anymore. There are 15 million citizens behind him. If he cannot be a candidate when that day comes, if you hide the candidate from the nation where the struggle grows, he gives 70 percent of the votes to the candidate you show instead. He gives 400 deputies to the parties. If there are 400 deputies, we will quickly return to the accelerated parliamentary system. Ekrem İmamoğlu becomes the head of the executive, becomes Prime Minister. If we look at the current attitude of the impartial president, it would be Mansur Yavaş. Mr. Mansur had said in the past, 'I am no one's backup.' I would not want to put him in this position either. The solidarity Mr. Mansur showed with Mr. Ekrem, his party identity, lawyer identity, and executive identity are very important. When the conditions come that day, what he thinks, what we think, what the public thinks will be looked at. I said he is a Presidential candidate because İmamoğlu is the nation's candidate, this is the essence and word of the matter. I will not say anything that will devalue Mr. Mansur. Our personal and party law is very strong. Time proved me right. All of Mr. Mansur's statements were made by some friends doing journalism under the conditions of that day. I said this, 'We talked about all the possibilities with Mr. Mansur, we said Mr. Mansur says if my party gives a task in this process.'

"İMAMOĞLU IS THE CANDIDATE OF 15.5 MILLION PEOPLE"

I am ashamed of the 15.5 million citizens who chose him rather than İmamoğlu. We have to remember this. Tayyip Bey was accused and tried with all the accusations that Ekrem president was exposed to, corruption, extortion, support for terrorist organizations. But the police car never went to his door in the middle of the night. They didn't take him and bring him to the courthouse by force. He was tried without arrest. From the case he was sentenced, he went to the podium in Saraçhane and was sent to Pınarhisar prison with drums and zurnas, even the back of the ward where he would sleep was arranged. That's why 15.5 million people go to the ballot box and remind Tayyip Bey of this. That's why we say 'leave my candidate, bring the ballot box.' İmamoğlu is the candidate of 15.5 million people, İmamoğlu. I say this to my own mayors, 'Friends, you must be very careful. We are a white page, if they put a dot on it, we show that dirt. Let no one try to do what the AK Party did,' we say. Is it clear enough?

DOES ÖZEL HAVE A CANDIDACY PLAN?

As the chairman of my party, I have a goal. To defeat Mr. Erdoğan in the elections if he can be a candidate. I want to introduce the Republic of Turkey to democracy once again, to make people smile with a roadmap progressing with the goal of full membership to the EU. Mr. President is sitting in one of Atatürk's seats. I am also sitting in one of Atatürk's seats. Our nation will appreciate how much he deserves it in the next elections. There is a multi-seat insufficiency and multi-authority confusion in the Mr. Presidency. Why is he rolling the dice instead of facing this reality? They are not in their old power. They are neither the first party nor strong on the street. The 5th and 2nd parties, who had themselves applauded by those they appointed in the hall, have neither the right nor the audacity to determine Turkey's future. Let them mind their own business, let them pack their bags.

"WE BROKE THE TRUSTEE GAME ON THE CHP"

When a deputy elected by Tayyip Erdoğan tried to go to another party, he was talking about morality. He is elected from an alliance and goes to a party with a similar orientation. He resigns because there is no peace in his party and goes to another party. He was already elected from the CHP lists. What do we say against Tayyip Bey, we are against the rule of one man. We have limited power in Konya. The gentleman elected from that power has gone and carried it to the AK Party. Let him watch Tayyip Erdoğan's video, what he said about this. The main issue is this. Trustee to IMM, trustee to CHP. We broke that game somewhere. Later, when the words of trustee to CHP came, Mr. Bahçeli also said, 'there can be no such nonsense.' Turkey's politics will get rid of these, there is no other way.

"IF İNCE WANTS TO COME TO THE CHP, WE WILL BE TOGETHER"

We corresponded with Mr. Muharrem last night. When he comes to Ankara, let's drink tea, let's chat, we said. Mr. Muharrem has a party. He is not lying at our door. We have a very healthy relationship with Mr. Muharrem. We have breakfast from time to time. We call it the father's hearth. Mr. Muharrem is one of the people who has pulled wood to this hearth. He is one of the people we can be together with most easily. This business is being tried to be brought to a dimension that will offend both sides, pell-mell. There is no need for this.

"WE WILL NOT MAKE A CONSTITUTION WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CONSTITUTION"

We maintain our distance on the constitution issue. A Turkey without terrorism, the democratic steps that need to be taken in the solution of the Kurdish issue are made by making new laws, by revision to the law. We will not enter the ground he wants to pull us into, to make a constitution with those who do not comply with the constitution. In legal regulations, at least you fight on the ground of Parliament. You explain, you suggest the right thing. Of course, this country will make a civil, democratic constitution that meets the needs of the age. We will have a libertarian constitution that has banned bans. When will it be, hopefully when our nation goes to the election that will bring democracy to Turkey.

"LET HIM DREAM"

If he does not accept the resignations of the deputies when he tries to hold a by-election. I have been saying bring the ballot box, bring my candidate for so long. If he wants it so much, let him come and let's hold the election. Why is he running away from me this time, let him not make his account by running away from the ballot box. When that day comes, the authorized bodies of the CHP have their own accounts and books. Since I am not a one-man, I go to my friends, if he says 'I have been saying early election to this gentleman for years, now he has come, I will be a candidate,' I say 'let him dream.'

News Source: 12punto