CHP Chairperson Özgur Özel: ‘Democracy Fest is Our Wealth"

Özgür Özel, Chairperson of the Republican People's Party, made a statement after a meeting with 81 provincial chairs and said, "Today, as the first Chairperson of the Second Century of the Republic and as the first provincial chairs, we confirm together that the celebration of democracy we are experiencing is not a deficiency, not a debate, but a richness, a pride for our party and for Turkey."

Özel met with 81 provincial chairs at Söğütözü Mövenpick Hotel. Making a joint statement with the provincial chairs after the meeting, which lasted for about 2 hours, Özel said, "With the inspiration we took from Bülent Ecevit, 44 years after his rule, we aim to change and exceed the interest and trust in the CHP to the points provided by Ecevit and his friends in the 1970s by producing policies that are people-friendly, that value labour and that we will make the voices of those who have contributed to the society and those who are oppressed in the future and that we will make their voices heard and produce policies in their favour." Özel noted the following:

"THIS FEST OF DEMOCRACY WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS OUR WEALTH"

"If I am elected as the Chairperson of the Party, no matter how many provincial chairpersons I enter the hall with, we will leave with 81 provincial chairpersons and I had committed to an abandoned and forgotten tradition of our party that the elected chairperson would meet with 81 provincial chairpersons that very day to discuss the structure of the Party Assembly for the following day. Of course, something very unexpected happened yesterday and the election was left to the second round with only two votes difference in order to ensure an absolute majority as required by our statute. So, instead of holding a meeting at that late hour, we preferred to have a first breakfast together today. It was good for us to have breakfast and chat together. Today, as the first Chairperson of the Second Century of the Republic and as the first provincial chairpersons, we are confirming together that this feast of democracy is not a deficiency or a debate, but a richness, a pride for our party and for Turkey.

"OUR ORGANISATION EXPRESSED THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT OUR KEY LIST"

We left the hall yesterday with 81 provincial chairs and today we are together. Today, in the afternoon, with the opinions I have received from my provincial chairs and their demands and suggestions, we will work to form a party assembly worthy of the CHP by paying attention to regional distribution, complying with the gender quota, complying with the youth quota, and later in the afternoon, we will present a key list to our organisation that our 81 provincial chairs will embrace. There is a sheet list and individual nominations. The key list has a meaning and importance, but it is not an imposition. Our organisation and provincial chairs have expressed that they will embrace our key list together. This is very valuable, but we would prefer that this key list is not understood by the public as a block list. We hope to appear before you with a key list that does not block or impose candidacies and covers the entire organisation.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTION FROM KILIÇDAROĞLU"

I would like to thank all my provincial chairs who were here today in the early hours of the morning in almost full attendance. Whatever we committed to yesterday, we have confirmed once again today that the CHP will continue to move forward with a management approach that gives strength and draws strength from its organisation. The applause inside was not for me. We all applauded our 7th Chairman of our party, Turkey's march for justice, the leader of our march for justice, Mr Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. From now on, we will continue to receive all kinds of contributions from him, to benefit from his experience and knowledge."

"WE WILL MEET WITH OUR ESTEEMED CHAIRMAN AFTER IT BECOMES CLEAR WHEN THE MANDATE WILL BE HANDED OVER"

Upon a question, Özel said, "We will complete the congress today. There is no objection so far. But after the Party Assembly today, there is a 48-hour objection period. Accordingly, we will meet with our honourable Chairman after it becomes clear when the mandate will be given. Of course, there will be a handover, a formal handover, but a communication channel will always be open where our honourable Chairman will constantly transfer his accumulated experience to us. We will continue to benefit from the experience and knowledge of Mr Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, whom we deem worthy of governing Turkey and who has received the support of almost one out of every two people, in the whole process and we want all of us to know this."