Invitation to AKP members from CHP leader Özgür Özel

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel answered journalists' questions during the "The Nation Protects Its Will" rally held in Trabzon. His agenda included both the party congress process within the CHP and the elections for the Deputy Presidency of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB).

"THE PARTY ORGANIZATIONS DECIDE WHO WILL LEAD THE CHP"

Özel responded to a question regarding the CHP's congress process by emphasizing the democratic functioning within the party:

“The party organizations decide who will lead the CHP. We do not have any impositions from Ankara. We place ballot boxes in the neighborhoods. Ballot boxes are placed in the neighborhoods of our members living in the apartments you see across the street. Members first determine the neighborhood delegate, then the neighborhood delegates determine the district, the district delegates determine the province, and the provincial delegates determine the headquarters.”

Pointing out that this approach is very different from the methods applied by the AKP, Özel made a reference to the “single candidate” practice in the AK Party without naming names:

“We are different from an atmosphere where the Justice and Development Party calls candidates to Ankara and forces them down to one when two candidates emerge in a district or province. We are a party that places ballot boxes even in their neighborhoods. That is why it is difficult for Justice and Development Party members to understand this.”

OPEN CALL TO AKP MEMBERS: "RETURN TO THE FATHER'S HEARTH"

In the continuation of his statement, Özgür Özel issued a notable call to citizens who are members of the AKP, saying, “I invite all Justice and Development Party members who like and envy this democracy to become members of the CHP, the father's hearth founded by Atatürk. I invite AK Party members to leave the party that is pushing Turkey into poverty and unemployment, and the youth into hopelessness, and return to the father's hearth.”

News Source: 12punto