Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan: AK Party was never distant from us

Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan officially joined the AK Party after having the party badge pinned by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following his resignation from the CHP in February. After the completion of this political transfer, Özarslan participated in an interview broadcast on TV100, making important statements regarding the ground of this inter-party transition and his personal past. He evaluated in detail the developments from the day the transition process from the Felicity Party to the CHP began for him, and the reasons for ultimately being under the AK Party roof.

While giving information about the origins of his political identity and the parties he went through, Özarslan stated that the MHP was a school (education) for him, and that the AK Party seemed like a political formation that was always close to him due to many friends and close relatives within it. He attributed the main reason for his departure from the CHP to the attitude and words of party leader Özgür Özel towards him. In particular, he emphasized that coming from a family of Sivas origin and growing up in a nationalist idealist structure made it impossible for him to remain silent against a possible compromise.

Özarslan stated that the transition process to the CHP took place thanks to his acquaintance with Mansur Yavaş and the close interest shown in this name by the nationalist circles in Ankara, explaining the developments of that period with the effect created by Mansur Yavaş's personality. He stated that his past as a founding member and provincial president of the İYİ Party was also a factor that kept him constantly together with the right-nationalist front, and therefore it was difficult to maintain a reconciliatory stance on a line like the CHP.

One of the most striking parts of the interview was the harsh criticisms directed at Özgür Özel. Özarslan claimed that Özgür Özel was the sole responsible party for the separation process, and that this separation became inevitable as a result of statements he made about 4.5 months ago and 'shallow' messages he sent. He argued that the CHP leader's attitude would not allow a person with a family structure born and raised in Sivas and with a nationalist upbringing to be sheltered in that party.

In the final part of his statements, emphasizing his personal identity and moral values, Keçiören Mayor clarified his stance with the words 'We are a dignified, virtuous child of the Turkish nation'. He implied that this transition was not just an inter-party transfer, but also a decision prioritizing personal honor and character. Özarslan's harsh outburst brought to the agenda the tension in the relationships between local executives in Turkish politics and central party leaders, and the questionable nature of adherence to party discipline.