His decision had been a subject of debate: Özgür Özel explains why he did not march to Taksim on May 1st!

The AKP government, which banned Taksim Square on May 1st, effectively placed Istanbul under a blockade.

In Istanbul, where roads were restricted at 04:30 and public transport at 05:30, an undeclared state of emergency was effectively implemented.

On the morning of May 1st, workers, unions, and political parties arrived at Saraçhane. In a statement made at his party's group meeting before May 1st, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel drew attention to the Constitutional Court's ruling on Taksim and stated, "If they are gathering from Beşiktaş and Saraçhane to march to Taksim, we as the CHP will be with them."

THE MARCH WAS CALLED OFF

CHP leader Özel was expected to march from Saraçhane toward the Valens Aqueduct (Bozdoğan Kemeri), which had been closed off by police, alongside Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, and the unions; however, after spending about an hour in Saraçhane, Özel left the area. The unions also decided to call off the march following negotiations.

Özel recalled his discussions with Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya but reported that permission for Taksim was not granted. Özel used the expression, "Some people think of Taksim as their own banner of sovereignty."

ÖZEL EXPLAINS WHY HE DID NOT MARCH TO TAKSİM

While the decisions of the unions and Özel continued to be debated, the CHP leader responded to the question, "Why didn't you march to Taksim?"

Speaking to İsmail Küçükkaya from Halk TV, Özel said that on May 1st, he avoided creating an image of the leader of the country's main opposition party and those accompanying him clashing with the police. He underscored that he had such a responsibility, especially as the leader of the party that had just emerged as the top party in the elections.

Özel used the following expressions:

"We are currently Turkey's number one party. This comes with responsibilities. Moreover, as the party that will govern the country in the future, our responsibilities have increased even more. As a party that won on March 31st, it would not have been appropriate for me or my party to go and push and shove with the police despite an unlawful order given to them."

Küçükkaya asked the CHP Chairman whether any intelligence, information, or the possibility of provocation had been a factor in his departure from Saraçhane.

Özel gave the following response:

"It was obvious that an attempt was being made to create a conflict environment where a number of provocations would occur and the crowd there would be provoked."

"AN IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT"

While emphasizing that the scene in Saraçhane was of historical significance, Özgür Özel commented on that photograph as follows:

"Ultimately, for the first time in 10 years, we gathered in a square in Istanbul on May 1st. And not just alone, but both the CHP and DİSK, TTB, TMMOB, KESK, and many other organizations were together. We presented a joint image. I see this as an important achievement in terms of an organized society."

"I WILL OVERCOME THAT BARRICADE BY WINNING THE FIRST ELECTION"

Özgür Özel also reacted very strongly to the barricade in front of the historic Valens Aqueduct in Unkapanı, stating that as of yesterday, this had been recorded and etched into memory.

The CHP leader spoke as follows:

"I will remove that barricade. I will withdraw the state's police from there, but I will not do it by clashing with the police, who are themselves children of the people. I will do this by winning the next election as a chairman who emerged from the election as the number one party. I will do this through elections, not by fighting, pushing, or clashing."

News Source: 12punto