Özgür Özel: Erdoğan faced defeat after 23 years, we will come to power in the first election

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel addressed citizens in Tire, İzmir, emphasizing the party's goal of coming to power in the next general election following the success in the local elections. He criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating, "Erdoğan faced defeat after 23 years in our first encounter. They are at the end of the road, we are at the beginning." Özel highlighted that the CHP is the party founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and embraces all democrats in Turkey.

Özel began his speech by thanking the citizens for their support. He reminded that in the March 31 local elections, 29 out of 31 mayoral candidates in İzmir, including the metropolitan municipality, were elected. He congratulated the Tire Mayor and stated that all mayors who contributed to the CHP's success are the party's own children. "We are walking hand in hand with our mayors towards power. We fully support our Tire organization, our mayor, our council members, and our provincial chairman," he said.

Özel mentioned that they visited different districts of İzmir throughout the day and the interest they received gave them hope. "I thank you all for your interest and support under this heat," he expressed. He stated that they are in a new march and will not give up on the goal of power. Referring to judicial processes against the party, Özel said, "Even if some try to wear down the CHP with judicial games, we will not abandon our goal of power. We will either find a way or make a way to come to power in the first election."

In the new period, Özel aims to revive the hopes of young people, provide social security for housewives, solve the economic problems of retirees, and raise the minimum wage to a level that rewards labor. He also promised to develop policies that guarantee a livelihood for farmers and producers. Criticizing the AK Party government, Özel said, "Tayyip Erdoğan's government is tired, aged, unable to walk, and has been handed over to bureaucrats, detached from politicians. Today, in the AK Party, it is not politicians but bureaucrats who have the say. They are at the end of the road. We are at the very beginning. We will continue to walk this path with determination."

Özel noted that they have rejuvenated the party administration, lowering the average age of the Party Assembly and Central Executive Board, and increasing women's representation. He also addressed the "absolute nullity" debates regarding the CHP, stating that they will continue to stand by the elected officials. He emphasized that young people, retirees, workers, and farmers all have a place in this struggle. Recalling his promise when running for the CHP chairmanship, Özel said, "Just as Bülent Ecevit made his party the first in the elections he entered, I said I would resign if I couldn't make the party first. In the first election five months after being elected, the CHP became Turkey's first party after 47 years." Continuing his criticism of President Erdoğan, Özel stated, "23 years after its founding, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who boasted 'I won, I won, I won' and saw himself as invincible, faced defeat in our first encounter after 23 years. I am now in the party of those who leave defeat behind. They have tasted defeat. We will send them away." He argued that the success in the local elections will be repeated in the general elections, saying, "Just as we succeeded after 47 years in the local elections, we will make the Republican People's Party the government after 50 years in the general elections. Together, we will make Turkey smile."