Ozgur Ozel reacted furiously on Thursday night after a court decision removed him from the leadership of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), describing the move as an attempted “coup” against the party.
Following a lengthy meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee, Ozel addressed supporters gathered outside CHP headquarters in Ankara, attempting to rally party members and underline that the opposition movement remained active despite the legal developments.
“I said the lights in this building would not go out early tonight. The party is shining, CHP is the first party of Turkey,” he declared.
Ozel accuses government of political intervention
The CHP leader described the ruling as a political intervention aimed at weakening the party and returning it to a period of political decline.
“Today, there was an attempted coup against the party founded by Atatürk. These coup plotters understand neither justice, nor conscience, nor the labour of the people,” Ozel said.
He also vowed to remain inside party headquarters until what he described as political interference in CHP affairs comes to an end.
“I am in this building, in my office, and I am not going anywhere,” he stressed.
Tensions rise with Kilicdaroglu
Responding to remarks from former CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Ozel rejected accusations linked to personal ambition and insisted the party would not become what he called a controlled opposition.
“We refuse to be the opposition of the Palace,” he said, in a direct criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AKP.
Ozel argued that the pressure against CHP intensified after the party’s strong local election performance on 31 March and the rise of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as a presidential contender.
“Our crime is that we are winning. Our crime is that we are defeating the AKP,” he said.
Opposition leader calls for nationwide mobilisation
The CHP leader urged supporters across Turkey’s 81 provinces to mobilise and resist what he described as an undemocratic intervention.
“I call on everyone who wants poverty and hunger to end in Turkey to join the struggle, the resistance and the squares,” he said.
Ozel concluded his speech by warning that the opposition was prepared to escalate protests if necessary.
“If necessary, we will stop life. We will not surrender,” he declared.
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