Özgür Özel: We are in a country where the government is trying to turn it into a regime of oppression

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made a statement following his party's extraordinary Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting.

The Special said:

"We are in a country where a government that has undoubtedly lost the favor and heart of the people, with the evil it has done, is trying to turn it into a regime of oppression instead of just holding on to its seat or somehow getting through the period until the elections without any hope of regaining its social support and legitimacy and ultimately settling scores at the ballot box. And today, we woke up early this morning to news that would make those who heard it say 'no way' and that no one would say 'I was expecting this too'.

A handful of people within this government, taking three prosecutors, three judges and three secret witnesses, declared war on this nation on March 19, 2025. We had defined this from the very beginning as ‘This declaration of war is not only against us but also against democratic politics.’ In fact, the solidarity and common determinations of all parties other than the People’s Alliance in the political spectrum were in this direction.

It is clear that they no longer want to govern this country with the consent of the people. They want to eliminate the ballot box and are rehearsing this. They are imposing an authoritarian administration on the people that does not have a ballot box. We have been resisting for 108 days. They are keeping our presidential candidate, who 15.5 million people voted for, our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, our mayors, municipal council members and bureaucrats in prison, despite the lack of any evidence. They spent a total of 150 billion dollars in 108 days, in other words, what they did cost 6 trillion liras. The people have become even poorer in 108 days, and the reputation of our country has been damaged even more. Our internal peace, unity and togetherness have gradually weakened and regressed, contrary to expectations. We are face to face with those who are fundamentally damaging the hope for peace, the hope for unity, the hope for a prosperous Turkey and the hope for full membership in the EU in these lands, who are isolating this country, who are trying to turn this country into a country governed by oppression at home.

They could not present the slightest evidence, proof or concrete indicator regarding our friends they are holding inside. Yesterday, independently of all this, you followed our attitude towards the criminal allegations and images regarding the operation carried out in Manavgat. Our delegation, one of whom is a lawyer and two of whom have control over the local government, proceeded to Manavgat at the speed of light and carried out the necessary work. The CHP will take the most sensitive stance it requires regarding that area.

However, everyone knows the situation of those who cannot make progress with the secret witnesses they call trees.

This morning, we woke up to darkness again, with a dawn operation. A criminal organization leader who was involved in crime from head to toe did not hesitate to attack our mayors who were known worldwide and were appreciated in their countries for the duties they carried out by expressing not what they knew, but what they thought they knew or a part of what they knew to a party. They detained Abdurrahman Tutdere, a friend of ours who was recognized by the whole world as a community leader during the earthquake and who was turned into an island by the mothers who mourned, who wanted something for Adıyaman when he went somewhere, who slept with Adıyaman, who woke up with Adıyaman. His claims are completely nonsense.

Zeydan Karalar in Adana. The president who was elected with support above the CHP's vote potential, who the people of Adana call a 'president like Adana', who took over the TBB Deputy Presidentship after the coup attempt against Ekrem İmamoğlu, and whose door was knocked on this morning. His wife opens the door and says 'he went to Gebze'. This time, teams go to Gebze and detain him.

On the other hand, our Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek. He has been the mayor for 26 years without a break. In the town, in Konyaaltı, in the metropolitan area... The first mayor in history to win the metropolitan municipality from a single party twice in a row. There were police at his door too.

"WE ARE THE EXCEPTION, WORKING WITH THE QAEDA AK PARTY"

So what could bring these mayors together? There is a leader of a criminal organization, Aziz İhsan Aktaş, whoever he said, an operation is being carried out against them. Now Adıyaman and Adana Metropolitan Municipalities... The contract with one has ended and has not been renewed, the other has been paid for an 8-year contract that was still ongoing. Here, they are detaining the municipality from which Aziz İhsan Aktaş invoiced and received money, and as far as we have seen so far, they are arresting him. So, has this Aziz İhsan Aktaş not worked with anyone else? We are the exception, the rule is to work with the AKP. The Supreme Court, the Turkish Grand National Assembly, THY, Pamukkale and Uludağ Universities, public hospitals of 20 provinces, AKP municipalities of 20 provinces, many district municipalities run by the AKP for years. We are the exception, in other words, their real customers are them.