CHP Leader Özgür Özel delivered a speech in Bucharest: "I Invite People to go to the Polls against the Far Right in France"

CHP CHAIRPERSON ÖZGÜR ÖZEL: "WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT THE GOAL OF FULL MEMBERSHIP TO THE EU IS LEFT IN WRITING"

Özgür Özel, Chairperson of the Republican People's Party (CHP), made a call for the second round of the parliamentary elections to be held tomorrow in France and said, "I invite all Turkish French citizens who will vote in France and who value our word to once again go to the polls against the far right and cast their votes in favour of democracy." Emphasising that CHP is a part of Europe, Özel said: "We claim to make Türkiye the pioneer of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are our common values. As the owners of this claim, we cannot accept Türkiye's EU full membership target to be left in writing. Our journey to power is the journey of this goal."

Republican People's Party Leader Özgür Özel attended the Socialist International European Committee meeting in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. In his speech he said, "Dear Prime Ministers, dear Pedro, dear Marcel, dear vice presidents, dear participants and dear comrades. I am very pleased to be together with you at this meeting, which coincides with a meaningful time. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the organisation and the Romanian Social Democratic Party. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our sister party, the British Labour Party, which achieved great success in the elections just two days ago. I would also like to congratulate dear Marcel, who assumed the post of Prime Minister last year, and thank him for his valuable hospitality."

"WE HAVE HISTORIC EXPERIENCE"

"At such a time, I must state that launching the Socialist International European Committee initiative is a very appropriate and timely initiative," said Özel and added: "The far right is on the rise in Europe and the world, but this should not mean that the left and social democracy will regress. As member parties of the Socialist International, we have the capacity and historical accumulation to produce policies that will solve the problems of our citizens. It is up to all of us to better explain this to our people and to warn and awaken them against the misleading and misguiding discourses of the far right. We, as the Republican People's Party, were able to achieve this in the 31 March elections. With the principle of 'change', one of the most important and unchangeable principles of the left, we showed our citizens that social democracy can keep up with the requirements of the age and produce permanent solutions to real problems." Özel said the following:

"WE DID NOT ONLY OPPOSE, WE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS"

"In all surveys conducted in the period since the election, our party is measured as the first party in Türkiye. In the answers given to the question of which party you would vote for if a parliamentary election were held next week, the Republican People's Party is measured in the parliament with the power to repeat the success in the local elections. Our party does not only oppose the current government, but also maintains an attitude that benefits the people and is appreciated by identifying the problems correctly and producing the right solutions."

"FIVE BIG RALLIES IN FIVE BIG CITIES"

"We closely follow the economic and social problems of workers, farmers, pensioners and young people across the country. In the 3 months since the elections, we have been in constant talks and negotiations with the government and other parties to solve the problems of the people. However, when we did not get any results, we organised five big rallies on five important issues in five major cities of Türkiye within three months. The increasing participation in each rally has already started discussions on early elections in Türkiye, even though only one year has passed since the general elections and the government has a four-year term."

"A NEW ECONOMIC ORDER"

"At the same time, we are working hard in our local governments to provide our citizens with affordable, accessible, efficient and sustainable services. As the European Committee of the Socialist International, we must take the lead in building a new economic order. Eliminating the inequalities created by neoliberalism, creating new areas of employment and providing the green, digital, inclusive skills required by new business areas with renewed education and equal opportunities... It should be under our leadership to write the prescription to revive the understanding of the social state, which Europe, of which we are a part, is the leader, by adapting it to the age once again."

"A VERY IMPORTANT MILESTONE"

"Our party is increasing its effectiveness in foreign policy day by day. With 1.5 million members and 17.5 million votes, our party is both one of the oldest and largest social democratic parties in Europe. This electoral success of the Republican People's Party in the easternmost part of the European continent, together with the electoral success in the UK in the westernmost part of Europe, has been a very important milestone for all of us. The Republican People's Party proposes a more resilient, more solidary and organised politics in the face of rising right-wing populism and aims to strengthen cooperation with left, social democratic and socialist parties in Europe."

"WE ARE READY TO SHARE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS"

"In order to find common solutions to our common problems, social injustice, climate crisis, wars and mass and irregular migration, it is necessary to increase and strengthen the solidarity between all progressive and democratic political parties. This will be one of the tasks of our committee. At this point, as the Republican People's Party, I would like to express that we are ready to share our experiences and achievements in local governments with our sister parties and to cooperate on these issues. The Republican People's Party claims to make Türkiye, which is a part of Europe, the pioneer of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are our common values. As the owners of this claim, we cannot accept that Türkiye's goal of full membership of the European Union is left in writing. Our journey to power is the journey of this goal."

DREW ATTENTION TO PALESTINE

"The world is becoming more uncertain and unstable every day. Increasing conflicts, especially in the Middle East and the Black Sea regions, which are neighbouring Türkiye, are of great concern to our societies. As the Republican People's Party, we would like to declare once again that we are ready to do our best to act in closer co-operation and common ground with our comrades on the war in Ukraine and the massacre in Palestine. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my appreciation for the recognition of the state of Palestine by Spain, Ireland and Norway. Our path is difficult, our struggle is tough and we have a lot of work to do. As social democrats, we do not and will not have the luxury of taking a break and resting on this difficult road. Personally and on behalf of my party, I believe that we will succeed in this struggle in Türkiye and I sincerely hope that all other sister parties will achieve similar successes. I invite all Turks who will vote in France tomorrow and who are French citizens who value our word to once again go to the polls against the far right and cast their votes in favour of democracy. We will continue to walk on this path without resting. As Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our party and our country, said, 'Those who set out to never rest will never get tired.'"