Özgür Özel's 'trustee' jab at Erdoğan: 'You are sawing off the branch you are sitting on'

DEM Party Van Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Abdullah Zeydan was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison on terrorism charges. While the Ministry of Interior appointed a trustee to manage the municipality in place of Zeydan in Van, Özel opposed the decision, noting that the removal of individuals elected by the nation is unacceptable.

In his statement regarding the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality, Özel emphasized that 'the removal of individuals elected by the nation is unacceptable.' The Ministry of Interior suspended Zeydan from his post as a temporary measure. Van Governor Ozan Balcı was appointed as the acting mayor in place of Zeydan.

Addressing AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel said, 'You are sawing off the branch you are sitting on.' Speaking in Manisa about the trustee decision, Özel used the expression, 'Whoever the nation elects is to be held in high esteem. We will hold those who see themselves as bosses and look down on the nation when it makes its choice accountable.'

Reminding that Erdoğan could not run in elections in 2002 due to a political ban, Özel stated the following:

'He cannot stomach it. The boss is the nation. We will hold those who see themselves as bosses and look down on the nation when it makes its choice accountable. I am addressing Erdoğan from here. Whoever the nation elects is to be held in high esteem. If you do this, you are sawing off the branch you are sitting on. The person elected by the nation should govern; you will have to endure it. If there is a crime, you separate them, you have them elected from within the municipal council. But such intolerance is not a correct matter.'

Former Van Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Abdullah Zeydan

THE REMOVAL OF ABDULLAH ZEYDAN FROM OFFICE

Van Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Abdullah Zeydan was suspended from office by the Ministry of Interior. Van Governor Ozan Balcı was appointed as the acting mayor in place of Zeydan. The Ministry of Interior announced that the decision to remove Zeydan from office was based on the prison sentence he received in the case in which he was tried.

The Ministry's statement reported the following:

''Abdullah Zeydan was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison for the crime of 'Knowingly and Willfully Aiding an Armed Terrorist Organization.' In accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law, he was suspended from office as a temporary measure. Van Governor Ozan Balcı has been assigned as the Acting Mayor within the scope of Articles 45 and 46 of the Municipal Law.''

Following the suspension decision, police officers wanted to have Abdullah Zeydan sign the notification from the Ministry of Interior. Zeydan refused to sign the document, stating that he did not recognize the decision. After being appointed as the acting mayor, Van Governor Ozan Balcı arrived at the municipal building early in the morning. Balcı took his seat in the mayoral office and officially began his duties.

News Source: 12punto