Özgür Özel, the elected Chairperson of the CHP at the 38th Ordinary Congress: "Hand in Hand, Shoulder to Shoulder Together We Set Out for Victory in Local Elections"

Özgür Özel, who was elected as the Chairperson at the 38th Ordinary Congress of CHP, said: "I am experiencing the greatest pride and honour of my life. On behalf of all CHP members, I would like to thank you for fulfilling this honourable duty given to you unanimously and with the wholehearted support of all of us at the congress of our party, which will shape the second century, in the first ballot box established in the 100th year of CHP and even in the 100th year of Turkey."

The 38th Ordinary Congress of CHP convened at the Ankara Sports Hall with the slogan "Democracy and Unity Congress in the Second Century". After two rounds of voting at the congress, Özgür Özel became the 8th CHP Chairperson.

In his speech of thanks following the announcement of the election results, Özel said the following:

"Dear Chairman of the Council, I am experiencing the greatest pride and honour of my life. On behalf of all Republican People's Party members, I would like to thank you for fulfilling this honourable duty given to you unanimously and with the heartfelt support of all of us, in the 100th anniversary of the Republican People's Party and in the first ballot box of the Republican People's Party, even in Turkey's 100th anniversary, in the congress of our party that will shape the second century.

Today, after the first round was concluded, I would like to thank our honourable Chairperson, Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who expressed his intention to come there and raise the hand of our Chairperson Özgür, who touched us all, who is now with us, whose heart is with us, and with whom we will continue the Justice March he started from now on.

I am aware of the responsibility you have placed on my shoulders. From now on, it is my duty and the duty of all of you to hold the seat of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, İsmet Pasha, Bülent Ecevit, Deniz Baykal, Murat Karayalçın, Hikmet Çetin, Altan Öymen and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and to protect their trust. I trust you all.

I would like to thank my mother, my father, my brother, my beloved wife Didem, my only daughter İpek and the families of Özel, Okay and Menemenlioğlu. I would like to sincerely thank all my teachers who raised me, from my primary school teacher to my boarding school teachers, my Bornova Anatolian High School graduates who did not leave me alone here today, and of course all our delegates and all Republican People's Party members who have this great honour with me at this time at this night.

The Republican People's Party has a remarkable group of 130 deputies. There was a lot of talk about who came here with the support of how many deputies. I am leaving this hall hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder with our 130 deputies. We entered the hall with our provincial chairs. I am leaving this hall arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder with our 81 provincial chairs. There was a lot of talk about the number of signatures. If Mr President permits, I accept the election results as 1366 delegates voted for me and I thank them all.

We left behind a difficult process. It was not easy to turn despair into hope after a great sadness and trauma, to lift up the fallen shoulders, to lift up the faces looking at the ground and to make the sullen faces smile, we believed in it; we believed in it with our friends; we believed in you; you also believed in it and raised hope. We are in hope. In this difficult process, I promise on my own behalf that I will not take any resentment out of this hall. Forgive me if I have offended anyone unintentionally during the process and today.

As of Monday morning, our group will continue its struggle in the Budget Committee with great energy and as a single punch. Together, we will focus on the very important local election process in five months. From here, I say to our one and a half million members: I am declaring mobilisation in our organisation starting from tomorrow in order to make up for the great sadness we experienced in the 100th anniversary of the Republic, to put a smile on faces and to enter the second century with victory. We will not stop, we will work, we will work shoulder to shoulder. We will regain all the municipalities we have, add new ones to them and win a great victory together. I believe in this and I trust you for this.

I will keep all the promises I have made to the organisation. Tomorrow morning, at 09.30, I have called a meeting with my 81 provincial chairs to discuss tomorrow's Party Assembly process. I invite them. We will keep the promises we have made for the pre-election, for the democratic statute, for all kinds of improvements worthy of this party from now on, without wasting time. I also have a promise. Hatay, where Mr Chairman has also contributed a lot... When I went to Hatay, I didn't talk politics. I said: I promise to keep Hatay and the earthquake zone on the agenda. My next visit will be to Osmaniye, my second hometown. I promised Osmaniye, I am coming.

From now on, we will experience great victories together. The victory here today does not belong to a candidate from the CHP. It is not a team. It is not a victory won at the end of a competition. The winner of today's victory is the whole CHP. Together, we have demonstrated to Turkey and the world that democracy within the party, multiple races, and democratic elections can change the Chairperson of the CHP. Now, the change in CHP is only an internal step. Now, together with our previous chairpersons, Mr Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and all those who have worked for this party, we are setting out for a local election victory hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. May our path be clear, may your path be clear.

I offer my love and respect to all of you.”