CHP Leader Özgür Özel: “Our Party, with Its Renewed Leadership and Youth, Represents the Future of Turkey”

“THE TURKISH PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN SHOW THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP ON DEMOCRACY”

“EVEN UNDER THESE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS, WE ARE HOPEFUL; OUR PEOPLE RESIST, AND DEMOCRATIC FORCES ARE RISING”

“WE SEEK A LASTING CEASEFIRE, PEACE, AND STABILITY IN OUR REGION”

“FOR EUROPE TO BE SECURE, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR TURKEY TO BE STRENGTHENED AS A DEMOCRACY AND A STATE OF LAW”

Republican People’s Party Leader Özgür Özel attended the Social Democratic Party of Germany Congress in Berlin. In his address, he said:

“Dear Bärbel, dear Lars, esteemed comrades, I am delighted to address our comrades for the second time at the congress of our sister party SPD. I greet you all with love, respect, and solidarity. I congratulate my dear comrades Lars and Bärbel on their election yesterday as SPD Co-Chairs. When I was elected CHP Chair in November 2023, I had the honor of speaking to you here in December 2023, just one month later. Since then, I am pleased that our party CHP and SPD have built new and strong relations. The Memorandum of Understanding we signed on October 30, 2024, is a concrete reflection of this cooperation, and I hope it will continue to grow.”

“OUR RISE HAS THROWN THE GOVERNMENT INTO PANIC”

“In my December 2023 speech here, I spoke about the transformation within our party, CHP. This call for change did not remain just in words. In the March 2024 local elections, our party became the leading political force in Turkey for the first time in 47 years. We now govern municipalities that cover 65% of the population and 80% of the country’s economic output. Since that day, all election surveys consistently show that CHP remains the leading party in Turkey.

While our party has gone through this positive transformation, unfortunately, both Turkey and our region have not witnessed similar positive developments. The rise of our party has thrown the government into panic. Since last October, the government has escalated its versatile pressures and attacks against both our party and social opposition. The latest stage of these attacks was the March 19 coup against our democracy and popular will.

On March 18, the 31-year-old university diploma of our Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, which is required for his presidential candidacy, was revoked. On March 19, he was detained in an early-morning raid by hundreds of police officers, and he was imprisoned on the very day he was officially chosen as the presidential candidate by 15.5 million voters. Today, in addition to Ekrem İmamoğlu, 10 of our mayors, along with bureaucrats, journalists, lawyers, civil society representatives, and many citizens who oppose the government, are in prison.”

“WE ARE HOPEFUL BECAUSE WE ARE BOTH RIGHT AND STRONG”

“We are experiencing one of the most severe attacks on democracy in our political history. Yet, tens of millions of our citizens continue to stand up for democracy and their will despite this oppression. Since March 19, we have held 29 rallies in Istanbul districts and other cities. Together with our people, we continue to protest these injustices every Wednesday and every weekend, and we will never give up. We will fight to the end.

As Turkey’s political regime becomes increasingly authoritarian, the solidarity shown by our sister party SPD is invaluable, and we are grateful for it. This is not only solidarity with CHP, but also with the tens of millions of citizens in Turkey who are defending democracy. The solidarity among the world’s democratic and social democratic forces must not be weaker than that among right-wing populists.

Dear comrades, even under these difficult circumstances, we remain hopeful,because we are both right and strong. We are hopeful because democratic forces in Turkey are rising, led by our party. We are hopeful because our people are voicing their demand for democracy louder than ever. We are hopeful because our youth, workers, retirees, and women continue to resist in the streets despite all intimidation and suppression.”

“OUR PARTY BRINGS HOPE TO OUR PEOPLE”

“Dear comrades, as a party, we aim for full membership in the European Union. Our goal is for Turkey to become a democratic, stable, and developed country based on human rights and the rule of law, with a fair distribution of income. We envision our country as a close friend, partner, and ally of Germany, and a member of the European family.

Turkey is a dynamic country undergoing significant social and political changes. The Turkish people, particularly the youth, are voicing their demand for change and democracy ever more strongly. With its lively and energetic opposition style, our party brings hope to our people. While the current government is trying to preserve its own existence against this rising dynamic of change, our party, with its renewed leadership and youth, represents the future of Turkey.”

“NO MORE VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW”

“Dear comrades, the world is going through a period of uncertainty, and democracy is under attack everywhere. Geopolitical tensions are rising, and regional conflicts are increasing. Massacres continue in Gaza, where more than 55,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 8, 2023.

In the north, bloody conflicts in Ukraine continue, claiming tens of thousands of lives. In the south, instability persists in Syria. The escalation that began with Israel’s attack on Iran, and subsequently evolved with U.S. involvement, has created a major threat for the entire region. We call on all parties to act with restraint, and we seek a lasting ceasefire, peace, and stability in the region. We hope that violations of international law will never be repeated.”

“A DEMOCRATIC TURKEY STRENGTHENS EUROPE”

“Dear comrades, we share Europe’s security concerns. For Europe to be secure, it is essential that Turkey be strengthened as a democracy and a state of law. Because, democratic Turkey will also strengthen Europe’s democratic forces.

Choosing short-term economic and security interests, or migration deals, over democracy in EU-Turkey relations would be the worst possible choice for both sides. Regardless of the developments in Turkey-EU relations, the Turkish people have repeatedly shown, and are showing again today, that they will not give up on democracy. Our struggle for democracy will be stronger if we wage it together, in solidarity.

Therefore, I would like to end with the words of one of Germany’s greatest artists, Bertolt Brecht, which we also use as a slogan in Turkey: ‘There is no salvation alone. Either all of us together, or none of us.’

I salute you all with respect, friendship, solidarity, and hope. Thank you very much. There is no salvation alone. Either all of us together, or none of us.”