Temel Karamollaoğlu delivers farewell speech at Saadet Party Congress! 'Those who shake hands with Netanyahu...'

The 9th Ordinary Congress of the Saadet Party, held under the slogan "A livable Turkey is only possible with Saadet," is taking place at the Ankara Sports Hall.

At the congress, where Temel Karamollaoğlu, who has served as chairman for 8 years, is not seeking re-election, elections will be held for the new chairman, the General Administrative Board, and the High Disciplinary Board memberships.

The Saadet Party High Advisory Board (YİK) announced that they support Kayseri Deputy and Deputy Chairman Mahmut Arıkan for the chairmanship to be vacated by Karamollaoğlu. In addition to Arıkan, it is known that Mustafa Kamalak, who has previously held this position, and party spokesperson and Istanbul Deputy Birol Aydın are also prospective candidates. The candidacies of the prospective chairmen will be finalized once they submit the delegate signatures required to run for office to the congress presidency during the election session.

According to the Saadet Party Charter, to be a candidate for the chairmanship, one must be nominated by at least fifteen percent of the total number of delegates at the Grand Congress. This means that each candidate can run by obtaining the signatures of approximately 200 delegates.

FAREWELL SPEECH FROM KARAMOLLAOĞLU

Karamollaoğlu delivered a farewell speech at the congress. He stated, "I am not saying I was a perfect chairman. I am not saying I did magnificent things. But during the time I served as your chairman, I never 'bowed to the path dictated by the oppressor.' I did not bow to any mortal for political prospects, for position, for rank, for votes, or for a seat. I did not refrain from speaking the truth out of fear of the condemnation of those who condemn." Pointing to Mahmut Arıkan as the candidate for chairman, Karamollaoğlu concluded his speech by asking for forgiveness. In summary, Karamollaoğlu said the following:

WE SAY 'BISMILLAH' AND GET TO WORK

We are holding a historic congress in a historic period. Today, we are conducting our 9th Extraordinary Grand Congress. We are taking a step toward a new era, a new beginning, and a new rise on the path to a "Livable Turkey," a "Great Turkey Again," and a "Just World." We are bringing together the accumulation of a 55-year history with the dynamism of today, saying our 'Bismillah' once again, and getting to work.

IT IS EASY TO BE A FRIEND TO JOSEPH IN THE PALACE, THE REAL THING IS TO BE A FRIEND TO JOSEPH IN THE WELL

Places have changed, positions have changed. Addresses have changed, but we have not compromised our path, our direction, or our faith in the slightest. With the same spirit and excitement we had when we established the National Order (Milli Nizam), we are walking toward the goal today with the same determination, the same resolve, and the same excitement. The Saadet Party is not the party of those who change direction according to the conjuncture, but of those who defend the truth under all conditions; it is the party of those who show loyalty, not those who say goodbye at the first difficulty. It is easy to be a friend to Joseph in the palace; the real thing is to be a friend to Joseph in the well, to be by the side of Joseph in the well. The Saadet Party is not the party of those who are deceived by the splendor of palaces, but of those who reach out to Joseph in the well. I hope this struggle of ours will continue until there is not a single oppressed person left on earth.

I AM ADDRESSING YOU FOR THE LAST TIME AS CHAIRMAN TODAY

Today, I am addressing you for the last time as the Chairman of the Saadet Party. Of course, after today, I will continue to walk with you, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, as a brother, but most importantly, as a soldier of this great movement, I hope. As you all know, I have been worried for some time about not being able to carry out this noble duty properly due to both my age and my increasingly chronic health problems. While my soul and heart want a work pace that will shake Anatolia like carded wool, my body unfortunately does not allow it. I shared this with both you and the public months ago with all my sincerity.

WE CONDUCTED A TRANSPARENT CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP

We initiated a consultation process in accordance with the principles and customs of the National View (Milli Görüş) and our Saadet Party. We shared this entire process with you and our organization in the most transparent way. The names of 83 of our brothers were written down as candidates for chairman; in the first stage, the names were reduced to 5, and ultimately, it was agreed to recommend the name of our Deputy Chairman and Kayseri Deputy Mahmut Arıkan, whom you all know closely. We have no doubt that his youth, dynamism, accumulation, and sincerity will carry our party to much further points with his organizational background. As they say, he is a brother who has grown up from the grassroots. He served in the MGV and AGD during his student years. He is a brother who has served in almost every level of our party, starting from being a ballot box observer to serving as district president and provincial president.

I AM NOT SAYING I WAS A PERFECT CHAIRMAN

This speech is a thank you and a request for forgiveness on my behalf. Exactly 8 years ago, in this very hall, I was deemed worthy of the chairmanship by the votes of you, our esteemed delegates. I am not saying I was a perfect chairman. I am not saying I did magnificent things. But during the time I served as your chairman, I never “bowed to the path dictated by the oppressor.” I did not bow to any mortal for political prospects, for position, for rank, for votes, or for a seat. I did not refrain from speaking the truth out of fear of the condemnation of those who condemn.

THOSE WHO SEE NO HARM IN SHAKING HANDS WITH NETANYAHU DID NOT LEAVE ANY INSULT UNSPENT BECAUSE WE SHOOK HANDS WITH MR. KILIÇDAROĞLU

Those who see no harm in shaking hands with Netanyahu did not leave any insult unspent because we shook hands with Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu. Those who had Peres applauded in Parliament and hosted Herzog in the Palace did not leave any insult unspent because the six parties of this country came together for the nation. Those who met with Trump and Biden at the oval table in the White House did not leave any insult unspent because we met at the table of 6... Everyone said something. They called us this, they called us that. But thank God, they could never say they are eating the rights of orphans. They could never say they are receiving unfair tenders. They could never say they are co-chairing BOP projects in dark rooms. They could never say they are sending trade ships to Israel while innocent children are being massacred in Gaza.

HE ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS

I say it again, I am not saying I was a perfect chairman. I am not saying I did wonderful things either. But I believe that it is the Almighty Allah who holds hearts in His hands. I say with all my heart that “Whatever I did, I did it for the sake of Allah, I tried to do it.” I have had shortcomings and mistakes in this duty. We are all human. However, I took care not to hurt anyone knowingly and not to treat anyone unfairly. During this time, I tried to serve our cause, our party, our country, and our nation as much as my strength allowed and as much as my tongue could speak. I tried to do my best to be a “Motor for Good and a Brake for Evil,” which is one of the fundamental principles of the National View (Milli Görüş). If there are people whose hearts I have broken unknowingly and unintentionally, from you or from our dear nation watching us on their screens, I ask them to forgive me. Please forgive me. If I have any right over you, I forgive all my rights to you. From today on, I will be at your command with all my energy, all my means, and all my time. I will try to fulfill every task given to me completely until my strength runs out, until my last breath.

News Source: 12punto