Özgür Özel: They're thinking of attacking Bayrampaşa Municipality.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made a statement in front of the CHP Chairmanship Work Office in Istanbul.

Speaking about the operation against the Bayrampaşa Municipality, Özel said, "We have 20 members in Bayrampaşa, and the AKP has 15 and two independents. They are arresting 8 of our members, thinking, 'What if the independents also go and vote?' They're going to attack the Bayrampaşa Municipality, in their minds. They're trying to manipulate the same game in Manavgat."

Highlights from Özel's speech include:

The most inexplicable behavior in the history of Türkiye's democracy and bureaucracy regarding the building's status continues. Those who forced our party to obtain a precautionary measure, which had been rejected numerous times, appointed a trustee here. That trustee received a strong backlash from both the public and the party. Initially, they refused to enter the building with police tear gas and batons, but they destroyed this building in their minds. For political parties, the legal entity belongs to the headquarters. We designated this as the party chairman's office and provided the address, but the Ministry of Interior, in accordance with the instructions given to the Governor's Office, prevents the address from being entered. Changing the address is my business. I ask Ali Yerlikaya this: If this is the Provincial Directorate, why can't citizens come and participate in political activities here? If this is the Istanbul Provincial Directorate, why is it closed to access? If not, what are you doing here? What are the 30 deranged people appointed by the police and the trustee doing?

An operation was carried out against our Bayrampaşa Mayor, Hasan Mutlu, and 47 other people. First, five, then, thinking five might not be enough, eight of our municipal council members were detained. We have 20 members in Bayrampaşa, 15 members of the AKP, and two independents. They're arresting eight of our members, thinking, "What if the independents also go and vote?" They're thinking they're going to attack the Bayrampaşa Municipality. They're trying to manipulate the same scheme as in Manavgat.

The mayor of Beykoz was imprisoned. He was released by the court. On his release, some said he would defect to the AKP. Within a day, they imprisoned elected mayor Alaattin Köseler and told the deputy mayor to defect to the AKP, stay in prison, and continue his mayoral duties. Now they're pinning him on a badge and saying they've taken Beykoz. Is this what it means to take Beykoz? The people of Beykoz have defected to the CHP.

Source: News Center