YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel directed sharp questions to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding the ongoing "fund" crisis during his speech at the opening of his party's Ankara Provincial Presidency primary election.
During the program in Ankara, Özel pinned a party badge on former Deputy Prime Minister and Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP) Chairman Murat Karayalçın, who joined the YENİ Party. Özel dedicated a significant portion of his speech to intra-party democracy, the primary election process, and the fund crisis.
Özel argued that the individuals serving on the boards of the fund companies were appointed by the government and reacted to Erdoğan's "foreign powers" rhetoric. Making assessments regarding the cost of the crisis to the economy, Özel stated, "You were all there while the nation's money was being stolen."
We have a few simple questions, Mr. Erdoğan. I am asking from here. Did foreign powers appoint those names to the management of the fund companies, or did you? When Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was carrying out the 2.2 billion [lira] embezzlement, did she trust you, or did she trust foreign powers?
In his speech, Özel also questioned whether there was a connection between those who prepared the "Century of Turkey" slogan and the circles mentioned in the fund crisis; he also called on Erdoğan to respond regarding AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik and references to "Hayati Bey's son."
BADGE FOR KARAYALÇIN, BALLOT BOX MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
Expressing his satisfaction with Murat Karayalçın's participation in the party, Özel said, "Mr. Karayalçın's joining our party has provided strength; it has been medicine, doping, and power for all of us."
Touching upon the primary election process in Ankara, Özel stated that five candidates are competing for the provincial presidency and that there is no candidate supported by the headquarters or the chairman. Özel said, "Whoever the members of the YENİ Party choose, that is our provincial chairman."
Stating that intra-party decision-making processes should be spread to the grassroots, Özel said they are aiming for a "new" approach in politics. Emphasizing that they will take the will of the members as the basis in district and provincial congresses, Özel stated that the winning candidates should not exclude their rivals.
At the end of his speech, Özel criticized the government's economic, justice, and public administration policies, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Özel said that the fund crisis must be clarified in all its aspects and that the losses must be recovered from those responsible.
News Source: 12punto
