Sharp reaction from Özgür Özel to Erdoğan: 'You cannot feed people with Surahs of Conquest'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel traveled to Erzurum by road after attending the Martyrs' Commemoration March and the Sarıkamış Martyrs' Commemoration Ceremony in the Sarıkamış district of Kars. He addressed citizens at a public meeting held there.

Expressing his happiness at being in Erzurum, where Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ignited the fire of independence, Özel said, "This beautiful city, which hosted the Erzurum Congress on July 23, 1919, has also been the city that determined the fate of our nation. I am very proud to be in this beautiful Erzurum, in the land of the 'Dadaşlar' (brave locals), which is not just a settlement or a city, but one that has witnessed an epic and the rebirth of a nation. There are many patriots here who have come to witness Erzurum's enthusiasm today, many soldiers of Mustafa Kemal who have love for the homeland, the nation, and the flag in their hearts."

"WE CAN SAY IT LOUD AND CLEAR IN ERZURUM: WE ARE MUSTAFA KEMAL'S SOLDIERS"

"We were in Sarıkamış last night with torches in our hands," said Özel, adding, "This morning, we walked that glorious 8.5-kilometer path together. I salute you all with respect, citizens of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who put his life on the line for our independence, who walked to the end of that path even if it meant death when his commander said 'walk,' who went without blinking to save these lands and protect this country, and who, while trying to wage a war of independence in those very days, faced investigations opened by those in Istanbul, received telegrams saying 'come back,' was issued death warrants, and in response, took off his beloved uniform and left Erzurum as a hero of the National Struggle, arriving for the first time in civilian clothes. I say 'We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers' all over Turkey. They are trying to dismiss our lieutenants from the army because they said it. We are rebelling, we are objecting, but if we are to say where the phrase 'We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers' was born, we can say it loud and clear in Erzurum, the city that made him the commander-in-chief of the armies on the day he took off his uniform. We are all Mustafa Kemal's soldiers. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who came here, held the Erzurum Congress, drew strength and power from Erzurum, went on to gather armies, started the national struggle, saved the country, and then established a democracy and a republic, never forgot this city that hosted him in his most difficult days; he rushed to Erzurum during the earthquake. Upon that visit, the Gazi Pasha said: 'My arrival here coincided with a time when the entire nation was surrounded by a circle of fire. The sincerity I saw here, the bravery I saw here, the heartfelt devotion, increased my determination and strength to make every sacrifice to save the homeland.' We are in a city that made Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk say this. We are proud of Erzurum and of you. Our Republic did not just save the country and ensure independence. It turned this nation from subjects into free citizens. After the victories won on the front, Turkey's path was cleared. With production, industry, development programs, and economic and social victories, this country has become a country where every individual can look to the future with confidence and be filled with hope for the future of their country," he said.

Özel continued his speech as follows:

"As the administration of the Republican People's Party, as the current managers of Turkey's 'father's house' of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, we have come to Erzurum once again to draw strength, just as our founder and first chairman did, to be the hope of millions who are condemned to poverty, inequality, injustice, and unfairness while some fill their pockets and others live a rich life, and to leave Erzurum with determination and resolve for the struggle."

"CHP IS IN 7 REGIONS, IN HOW MANY REGIONS IS THE AKP?"

Stating that while leaving behind a year full of difficulties, 2024 was a year of beautiful and important successes for their party, Özel said, "While some were dreaming that the CHP would fall apart, that it would never recover, and that they would take important municipalities from the CHP, especially Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Mersin, and Antalya, by relying on the 2023 election success as we headed to the March 31 elections, we made the Republican People's Party the leading party in Turkey again after 47 years with the inspiration we received from Atatürk, with our belief in youth, women, science, work, self-confidence, and trusting ourselves, with our party assembly with an average age of 43, and with the candidates we determined for our shadow cabinet, which is half women and half men, worthy of the party and the Ata. CHP-run municipalities address 65 percent of the population and 80 percent of the economy. For example, in the past, to those who said to the Republican People's Party, 'You cannot cross east of Sivas, you are not there,' we can now say this: The Republican People's Party is present in all seven regions. And no party other than the Republican People's Party is present in all seven regions at once. I ask Erdoğan, who is so arrogant, looks down on everyone, and ignores parties other than his own: The CHP is in seven regions. In how many regions is the AK Party? All the cities in the Aegean are Republican People's Party-run. Alongside our Muğla, Aydın, and İzmir in the Aegean, we have added Balıkesir, Denizli, Manisa, and also Uşak, Kütahya, and Afyon, which are not metropolitan municipalities, one by one. There is no party other than the Republican People's Party with a provincial or metropolitan municipality in the Aegean. But we are not just on the coast as we used to be; we are in the interior. We are in the Black Sea, the Southeast, and Central Anatolia. Well, what about the East? For example, in Erzurum, while we had no municipalities at the end of the 2019 elections, now the mayors of Çat and Şenkaya are sitting next to my provincial chairman in this hall. We wholeheartedly congratulate Görbil Özcan, who won in Şenkaya, and Arif Hikmet Kılıç, our great success in Çat, for coming to these positions by receiving the votes of one in every two of their fellow citizens, and together with them, we congratulate our district chairmen, their management, the provincial management, and the entire Republican People's Party family. We are proud of them all. Is it enough? It is not enough," he said.

"WE WILL WIN ERZURUM, I SWEAR"

Reminding that the CHP last won the municipality in Erzurum in 1973, Özel said, "But it is a deep desire within us, and I say it clearly from here: If this hall is filled to the brim with enthusiasm on its own, not during election time, not on any sunny day, but in the middle of a harsh winter, and not by bringing people in from here and there, then I say this: We will win the Erzurum Municipality in the next elections. I swear we will. And there is a need in Erzurum for a populist municipality, a municipality, a mayor, and a management approach that shares the people's troubles, does not discriminate against anyone, does not favor anyone, does not marginalize anyone, and embraces everyone. Likewise, in Turkey, there is a need for the government to hear the voices of the poor, retirees, and laborers, and for young people to revive their hopes and dream in this country, not abroad. The way to do this is to work together and make the Republican People's Party the government," he said.

"ERZURUM IS A TRUST LEFT TO US BY MUSTAFA KEMAL"

Stating that under the Republican People's Party government, they will hear the voice of Erzurum, which has supported this government until today but whose problems have not been solved, most closely, Özel said, "Erzurum is one of the cities where we will solve its problems the fastest. Because this Erzurum is a trust left to us by Gazi Mustafa Kemal. In the villages of our Erzurum, there are still sewage problems, drinking water problems, and pollution problems in the drinking water networks. There are problems for livestock farmers and farmers. There is a high-speed train problem that has turned into a never-ending story. There is a management approach that postpones the high-speed train, which they promised would be finished in 2023, for years to come. The city stadium, which has not been built in Erzurum for 20 years, is still waiting. As the Republican People's Party, we promise to build that stadium, to take the 'Dadaşlar' to the first league, and to watch Erzurumspor there with you," he said.

CALL TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR 'RETIREE SALARY'

"Our retirees, laborers, minimum wage earners, farmers, and tradesmen are suffering greatly," said Özel, adding, "Today, we are facing a government that gives 14 thousand liras to retirees, or plans to give it. Of course, we will make the lowest retiree salary one and a half times the minimum wage. But at least in this snow and winter, in this difficulty, in this absence, in this poverty, I call out to all political parties and all members of parliament in the assembly so that the retiree can hold on to life. From Erzurum, from the land of the 'Dadaşlar,' come, let us not remain silent to this evil. We are the ones who will raise our hands and vote for the law. Let us raise our hands to make the lowest retiree salary at least one minimum wage, not 14 thousand liras. Let us end the suffering of this retiree. Look, if the lowest retiree salary were one and a half times the minimum wage today, it would be 33 thousand liras. When Tayyip Bey came to power, the lowest retiree salary could buy eight quarter gold coins. Those who don't believe it can go to the jeweler and check the account. Today, the 12 thousand 500 liras he last gave can only buy two and a half quarter gold coins. Now he says, 'Let me make it 14 thousand liras.' So it can buy three quarter gold coins. That means he continues to lose five quarter gold coins every month for a year. I ask the retirees here: If you went to a jeweler, bought a quarter gold coin, put it in your pocket or threw it in your bag, and when you got home the gold was missing, you would go crazy. You would ask where it went and look at the places you visited, wondering how you lost it. Today, not just one retiree, but every retiree in Turkey has lost five quarter gold coins every month. Now is the time to look for those quarter gold coins; just as you go to the place where you lost it when you are looking for gold, you should go to the same place, meaning just as this erosion and impoverishment began with the arrival of this government on November 3, 2002, the lost thing is found where it was lost. I invite all retirees to go to the ballot box in the first election to be held, to find what they have lost, and to establish the people's government," he said.

MINIMUM WAGE 'CAĞ KEBAB' CALCULATION

Reminding that the wage received by laborers and minimum wage earners, alongside retirees, has been kept at 17 thousand 2 liras for a year, Özel continued his speech as follows:

"Why? Because there is no election. What was he saying on election day? 'We can increase the minimum wage every three months during the election. We can make inflation adjustments to the minimum wage four times a year,' he said. A year has passed, they haven't increased it by a single penny. But inflation is 44 percent by their account, and over 80 percent by the real account. Now, whenever I do a gold calculation, Tayyip Bey tells me not to do gold calculations. I came to Erzurum; Tayyip Bey doesn't want a gold calculation. What calculation shall we do? Let's do a 'cağ kebab' calculation. Look, everyone in Turkey remembers your 'cağ kebab,' which the retiree, the laborer, and the poor can no longer afford, but which everyone loves and misses very much. An Erzurum resident earning minimum wage was getting 17 thousand liras last year. A skewer of 'cağ kebab' was 50 liras last year. Is that right? So, if a minimum wage earner went, they could buy 340 skewers of 'cağ kebab.' Now he has made it 22 thousand 104, but the skewer of 'cağ kebab' has become 100 liras, is that right, Tayyip Bey? While the minimum wage you gave last year bought 340 skewers, today it buys 220 skewers. So, let's leave the gold calculation from Erzurum, the land of the 'Dadaşlar.' House rents in Erzurum have risen from 7 thousand 500 to 14 thousand liras on average. Let's leave that too. With the most well-known 'cağ kebab' calculation recognized all over Turkey, where is 340, where is 220? When the AK Party is in power, neither the troubles nor the needs end. But there is a remedy for all these troubles and needs, and its name is the Republican People's Party."

"YOU CANNOT FEED PEOPLE WITH SURAHS OF CONQUEST, IT IS OUR DUTY TO EXPLAIN"

Touching upon Erdoğan and the government's Syria policy, Özel said, "Tayyip Bey came to Erzurum in recent days. There is a heartbreak in the hearts of the 'Dadaşlar.' As the CHP, we do not ask Tayyip Bey for anything, not a raise in salaries, not lowering inflation, not supporting those who make a living from animal husbandry, not the increase in milk prices, not the subsidy on fertilizer. He chose his side. His side is to have his own appointees, whom he filled the halls with, applaud him, to erase the tax debts of his own cronies, and to try to hold onto power by creating a story over what is happening in Syria. He says to Erzurum, Tayyip Bey: 'People of Erzurum. You are hungry, you are poor, you are unemployed, you are insecure, but I won a victory in Syria. You should be happy about that.' 13 years, 283 martyrs, 200 billion dollars in losses, 4.5 million Syrians here. And he says: 'After 13 years, Assad is gone. 'Dadaş,' don't mind the poverty, be happy for Syria. Brother, don't be sad about unemployment, be happy for Syria. Don't worry about insecurity, be happy for Syria. House rent has doubled, don't mind. Be happy for Syria.' This nation is in no mood to be happy for Syria. It is our duty to tell and explain to this nation that you cannot feed people with Surahs of Conquest," he said.

"HE SAW THAT HE COULD NOT WIN THE ELECTIONS WITH YOUR VOTES"

Repeating once again that the Syrians in Turkey should return to their countries, Özel said, "Weren't they here because of Assad? If Assad is gone, let them go. Because he saw that he could not win the elections with your votes. He is calculating to make Syrians citizens first, then voters, and to hold onto power with the votes he will get from them, and he says, 'You are welcome.' Tayyip Bey, the Syrians are not welcome, they are sitting on the bread and jobs of the people of Erzurum. Therefore, the temporary protection status should be ended, and since even Colani, whom you love and admire so much, does everything you say, if it's about finding money, it's easy to find money for Syrians from the European Union and the world. If you can't keep up, we are here," he said.

"WAVE TO TAYYIP BEY"

Özgür Özel concluded his words as follows:

"We must send the Syrians back to their homelands as soon as possible, take care of this country's youth, unemployed, and poor, and revive this country again. It is clear that Tayyip Bey cannot do this. I call out to him once again: No one can make a living with these salaries you give. Let's all raise our hands together and wave to Tayyip Bey from here: If there is no livelihood, there is an election. People of Erzurum, stand up and send this government away. We trust you, we believe in you. We are sending this government away together. We will establish the people's government. We will take care of Erzurum. You are a trust left to us by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We love you all very much."

News Source: 12punto