CHP Chairperson Özgür Özel: "Democracy in Turkey is under an Unprecedented Attack"

"MILITARY AND TRADE RELATIONS MUST BE BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY"

"A DEMOCRATIC, PLURALISTIC, AND DEVELOPED TURKEY IS THE PEOPLE’S DEMAND"

"ERDOĞAN DOES NOT FEEL EVEN 10% OF THE PRESSURE HE SHOULD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"

"THE FUTURE OF TURKEY AND EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES IS INTERCONNECTED"

"NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY MUST BE HELD ON A DEMOCRATIC BASIS; ISSUES MUST BE DISCUSSED, AND NEW MILITARY AND TRADE RELATIONS MUST BE BUILT UPON THIS"

The Chairperson of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, attended the EU Council Leaders’ Preparatory Meeting organized at the invitation of the Party of European Socialists (PES). Speaking at the meeting in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, Özgür Özel said:

"Dear comrades, I greet you all with respect. First of all, I want to express how pleased I am that today everyone here began their remarks with a high sensitivity toward Palestine: not only condemning Israel but also emphasizing the recognition of Palestine, the suspension of trade agreements with Israel, and taking a firm stance not only with words but also with actions in support of the Palestinian people."

Özel continued:

"Just like the previous esteemed speaker, we are in the opposition in our country. Although the ruling party historically presents itself as a government that supports the Palestinian cause, under the pressure exerted by Trump and through the commercial and political relations it maintains with Israel, it is not fulfilling its responsibility.

Last week, all colors of Turkish politics and eight parties together organized a major solidarity rally. It made a strong impact in Turkey. We are exposing the secret and covert trade that the government still conducts with Israel. We are pressuring the government to take a clear and firm stance on this matter. While it has no effect on the government, it does enlighten those voters who gave them their vote believing they were ‘friends of Palestine,’ prompting political reactions from them."

"AUTHORITARIANISM HAS INCREASED OVER TIME"

"Dear comrades, first, I must express my gratitude for the solidarity you have shown to our party. On March 5-6, I spoke again in this very hall. I talked about the trends of authoritarianism in Turkey and developments affecting European security.

Although only three months have passed, authoritarianism in Turkey has increased and continues to increase. Attacks on democracy, the will of the people, and our party have reached an entirely new level. New conflicts have erupted in our region.

Right now, democracy and justice in Turkey are under an unprecedentedly severe attack. Opposition party leaders, politicians, mayors, businesspeople, civil society representatives, journalists, and students are all facing unlawful judicial proceedings. Pre-trial detention, which should be an exception, has become the norm; almost all defendants are tried while in custody.

Today, the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu elected by 15.5 million citizens and declared our party’s presidential candidate, was arrested on the very day of his nomination and placed in Silivri Prison. Alongside him, 10 of our mayors, leading 10 major districts, are also imprisoned.

On March 18, the university diploma of our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu which is legally required to run for the presidency was annulled 31 years after being issued by the same university. The faculty that issued the diploma resisted, so its dean was first replaced. Then, because the academics refused to cancel the diploma, it was annulled by the university’s administrative board responsible for shuttle lines and building maintenance effectively on Erdoğan’s orders.

On March 19, the day after the diploma annulment, Ekrem İmamoğlu was taken into custody. On March 23, the day of our primary election, he was formally arrested and sent to prison. We have called this process the ‘March 19 Coup,’ and we are conducting our struggle accordingly."

"ON JULY 1, WE WILL BE BACK IN SARAÇHANE"

"Last night at 11:00 PM, we finished the large Wednesday protest rally we hold in Istanbul every week, and I took the 3:00 AM flight to come here. Every weekend, we organize massive protests in a different major city, often the largest demonstrations that city has ever witnessed. So far, we have held 29 rallies, and the 30th will take place on the 100th day of the detention, next Tuesday, July 1, once again in Saraçhane.

During this process, we are deeply grateful for the support given by PES President, the leadership, and all our comrades in PES, whether through direct visits to Turkey or through statements of solidarity from abroad. In this challenging period for both our country and the world, we place great importance on solidarity among democrats who embrace European values.

The valuable efforts shown here are significant. However, it would not be wrong to say that Erdoğan does not feel even 10% of the pressure he should be feeling from the international community, the European Union, and its member states.

Today, Erdoğan behaves as if he owns Turkey. He manages Europe’s security concerns in his own way. While he was elected with 51% of the vote, recent polls show his support has fallen below 30%. Meanwhile, our party has become Turkey’s leading party, winning 65% of the municipalities and administrating 85% of the economy from the municipal perspective. Our latest polling shows our support rising to 41%.

Unfortunately, European countries and their leaders continue to view Erdoğan as irreplaceable and as Turkey’s perpetual leader. They make him feel this, and he uses it in domestic politics to create the impression that ‘the world has no alternative to Erdoğan and will never give up on him.’"

"WHEN THERE IS CONFLICT, EVERYONE RALLIES BEHIND AUTHORITY"

"In the current global climate, it is perfectly natural for all of us to have security concerns. But here lies a very critical and sensitive point: if we emphasize security concerns as loudly as the right-wing parties do, if we amplify them and make them the main agenda, then we will fall into the trap they set for us.

Everywhere security fears are spoken of loudly, the right gains strength, and authoritarians gain power. When there is conflict in a household when there is internal or external tension everyone instinctively rallies behind whoever holds authority in that home.

We must not allow our countries’ authoritarian regimes and far-right movements to grow stronger through security paranoia. Instead, we must unite and act in solidarity, implementing plans that strengthen Europe’s security together, not through isolated, fear-driven agendas.

We do not agree with reducing EU–Turkey relations to a transactional level, first under the pretext of refugees and now under the pretext of security. The changing conditions in our country and region demand a change in the nature of relations between Turkey and Europe.

Turkey is not limited to the rule of Erdoğan. Our party is Turkey’s leading party. A change in government is now only a matter of time. Since March 19, our people have been showing the largest democratic resistance in our political history, both physically and politically.

The future of Turkey and the future of Europe’s democracies are interconnected. As the Republican People’s Party, while we advocate for a democratic and stable Turkey, we also support a militarily strong Turkey, the development of defense relations between Turkey and the EU, and Turkey’s contributions to European and regional security.

We also argue that the current weak foreign policy alignment around 5% between Turkey and the EU should be increased. Internally, a democratic, pluralistic, developed, and stable Turkey is the demand of the Turkish people.

In an environment where EU values and democratic norms are disregarded, a new transactional bargain first over refugees, now over security will serve neither Turkey’s nor the EU’s long-term strategic interests. Negotiations must be conducted on the basis of democracy and freedoms.

Europe faces external security threats and the rise of the far-right at home. The antidote to these challenges is not compromising democracy in the name of security, it is joint efforts for more democracy."

“WE AIM FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION”

“Turkey is a respected and equal partner of Europe. Relations between Turkey and Europe must be built upon this reality. Europe should never push Turkey away but should pull it closer. Yet, while doing so, it should invite Turkey onto the ground of democracy and the rule of law, and make it felt as clearly as possible regardless of who governs Turkey that it can embrace Turkey in this way. Because our people’s faces are turned toward Europe.

Negotiations with Turkey must take place on the foundation of democracy, problems must be discussed, and new military and commercial relations should be built upon this basis. The visa issues facing our young people and citizens must absolutely be resolved.

We are a party that aims for full membership in the European Union. The application for full EU membership and all the major steps toward it have always taken place during periods when the Republican People’s Party (CHP) was in power or part of the government. After coming to power, we have a strategy to implement the Copenhagen Criteria at the speed of light and achieve EU membership.

In this matter, the steadfast support of you, our sister parties, is of great importance to us, as it has been in the past and will continue to be in the future. I offer you my respect with the hope that we can produce solutions to all our problems together. I greet you all with respect and embrace you with affection.”