CHP Leader Özgür Özel: “What Is Happening in Türkiye Concerns All Democrats and the Global Struggle for Democracy”

“OUR PARTY STANDS AS A BARRIER AGAINST BOTH RIGHT-WING POPULISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM”

“IF AUTHORITARIANISM HAS BECOME A GLOBAL PROBLEM, THEN SOLIDARITY AMONG DEMOCRATS MUST ALSO BE GLOBAL”

“A COMMISSION TO BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE CEASEFIRE AND PEACE PROCESS”

“OUR STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW FOR A FAIRER, FREER, AND MORE PEACEFUL WORLD”

Chairperson of the Republican People’s Party Özgür Özel attended the Socialist International Presidium Meeting held in Madrid, Spain.

Addressing the meeting, CHP Leader Özel said:

“Dear comrades, it is a great pleasure to be here today under the roof of the Socialist International, together with all of you. I greet each of you with feelings of solidarity. I thank my friend Pedro for his hospitality and his excellent team for hosting the meeting in Istanbul, and for the strong impact that meeting created in the international public sphere. I would like to once again thank everyone who attended the meeting we hosted in Istanbul and express that, in the future, we will be very pleased to welcome you again in Türkiye whether for official duties or private visits.”

Özel continued:

“THE GOAL: TO END INJUSTICE AND MASSACRES”

“We come from different countries, but we share the same powerful ideals. Though we may represent different nations, cultures, and political traditions, we are united by our unwavering belief in democracy, freedom, and social justice. Just like our values, our struggle is also shared. Even if our parties have different names, what makes us comrades is our common vision and shared goals. That goal is to build a system where poverty, injustice, authoritarianism, and massacres come to an end.

In this struggle, everyone in this room stands together Pedro is our comrade in Spain; Magdalena is our comrade in Sweden; Chantal is our comrade in Cameroon; Lars is our comrade and friend in Germany. We live in a global world where developments in Ankara and Istanbul affect Madrid; developments in Madrid affect Kyiv, Rabat, and Gaza; and developments in Rabat affect Stockholm and Brazil. This is precisely what makes us internationalists. What is happening in Türkiye is not an internal matter. It directly concerns the global struggle for democracy and all democrats around the world.”

“MORE THAN 11 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE JOINED OUR RALLIES”

“The Republican People’s Party, which I lead, is the party that founded the Republic of Türkiye, established equal citizenship, and brought our country to a multi-party democracy. Although we have been out of power for many years, our party emerged as the leading party in the most recent local elections and is now clearly ahead in all general election polls. This very success has made us a target of the ruling structure, which has been in power for 23 years. Those who once benefited from democracy are now trying to suspend it attempting to silence the free press, restrict political activity, and detain students, journalists, and especially artists for the slightest criticism, keeping them unlawfully imprisoned for extended periods. We are facing a nationwide clampdown that seeks to suppress society as a whole.

These attacks culminated on March 19, 2025, in an attempted coup by the political power against its rivals a coup against the future government and the future President of Türkiye. This attempt continues today. Our Istanbul Mayor and Presidential Candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, along with 16 other mayors, many politicians, and bureaucrats, have been imprisoned for more than 200 days. No indictment has been written, no trial has begun, and no evidence has been produced. At the beginning of this process, an unauthorized body even annulled Ekrem İmamoğlu’s university diploma obtained 31 years ago. In Turkish politics, a university diploma is required only for presidential candidacy making this nothing less than an attempt to block his candidacy.

This attack has not been limited to our party. It has extended to civil society, the media, and the cultural and business communities anyone perceived as a democratic threat by the ruling power. But neither our party nor the people have surrendered. We have risen in resistance. Since March 19, we have organized 60 major rallies and demonstrations across Türkiye, with more than 11 million citizens participating in person. The accusations of so-called corruption against our colleagues have failed to convince society. Public opinion surveys show that no more than 30 percent believe these allegations, while 70 percent stand with the truth and with us.

As a result, our party continues to grow its support. Contrary to global trends, it is not right-wing populism but social democracy that is on the rise in Türkiye. I want to emphasize that our party stands as a barrier against both right-wing populism and authoritarianism and that this struggle is being rewarded by the people.”

“LIKE AUTHORITARIANISM, DEMOCRACY AND HOPE ARE ALSO CONTAGIOUS”

“Dear comrades, the survival of democratic forces in Türkiye is of utmost importance for everyone in this room. Authoritarianism is a contagious disease that crosses borders easily. But we also know that, just like authoritarianism, democracy and hope are contagious too. As a party with both a strong national presence and an internationalist perspective, we have a message to the world: authoritarianism is not an inevitable destiny. Authoritarians can only win in two situations: first, if democratic forces fail to show international solidarity; and second, if no resistance is organized domestically. When these two elements are absent, authoritarianism becomes cost-free for authoritarians, and they grow bolder.

We believe and know that authoritarianism is destined to be defeated through international solidarity and struggle. Populism, the far-right, and authoritarian leaders are spreading and gaining strength from Europe to the America, from Asia to Africa. These leaders operate in solidarity: when one faces a crisis of legitimacy, others rush to their aid. Seeing this solidarity among authoritarians reminds us of our responsibility as democrats to build even stronger networks of solidarity. If authoritarianism has become a global problem, solidarity among democrats must also be global. In this regard, our comrades in the Socialist International and Progressive Alliance must stand shoulder to shoulder. Our wish is to see these two important platforms unite their strength. The fact that Pedro Sánchez whose struggle and leadership are respected by leftist and socialist movements worldwide serves as President of the Socialist International is a historic opportunity.”

“LET US WORK TOWARD A TWO-STATE SOLUTION FOR GAZA”

“Dear friends, we welcome the fact that the Socialist International’s sensitivity regarding Gaza has resonated at the state level here in Spain. We express our gratitude once again from Madrid. I extend my warmest greetings to our comrade Pedro Sánchez for taking a stand against Israel’s massacres. For nearly two years, Gaza has been experiencing one of the most horrifying genocides in modern human history. Although it may not fully satisfy us, we welcome the ceasefire agreement accepted by the Palestinian Authority. Our approval of this agreement aligns with the words of Alija Izetbegović: ‘A bad peace is better than a continued war.’

Our concern stems from the Trump administration, which openly supported Israel’s genocidal policies by calling Netanyahu a ‘war hero’ and even advocating for the complete evacuation of Gaza. What matters now is ensuring strict adherence to the ceasefire agreement, urgently delivering humanitarian aid to the region, and ultimately achieving a two-state solution. International pressure for peace must continue to be exerted on the governments of Israel and the United States.

Before concluding, I would like to make a concrete proposal to the Socialist International: we believe that a commission should be established within the Socialist International to closely monitor the ceasefire and peace process. This commission should help ensure that the negotiated plan leads not to turning Gaza into a modern colony, but to achieving a genuine two-state solution.”

“THERE ARE DEMOCRATS AROUND THE WORLD WHO KEEP THE HOPE ALIVE”

“Dear comrades, today democracy is under great attack both in the world and in Türkiye. Authoritarians, who do not hesitate to sacrifice justice and democracy for their own interests, are deepening judicial injustice and economic and social inequality. Yes, the number of authoritarians is increasing today. But there are also many democrats around the world who keep hope alive. We know that social democracy does not only defend today it defends tomorrow as well.

So let us send a strong message together from here: the Socialist International will stand firmly for democracy, peace, and justice. I thank you all. And from this platform, I invite all our friends to join us at our 61st democracy rally, which will take place this Sunday in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Our struggle will continue to grow for a fairer, freer, and more peaceful world. Thank you.”