“Erdoğan gives whatever Trump wants”: Özgür Özel in Eskişehir

The 64th stop of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) nationwide campaign “Protecting the National Will” drew tens of thousands to Republic Square in Eskişehir, where CHP Chair Özgür Özel delivered a fiery speech intertwining economic sovereignty, democracy, and defiance.

The rally carried a symbolic weight: Istanbul Mayor and CHP’s imprisoned presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a handwritten letter from Silivri Prison, read aloud to the crowd, calling for unity, justice, and the protection of democracy against what he called “a political assault on the people’s will.”

Imamoğlu’s Letter: A Voice from Behind Bars

İmamoğlu, jailed for over seven months amid “espionage” allegations, used his message to underscore the sanctity of democracy and rule of law. His words ignited chants of “Hak, hukuk, adalet!” (“Rights, law, justice!”) from the sea of supporters in the square.

The letter marked another step in CHP’s ongoing public campaign, which began following İmamoğlu’s arrest, designed to mobilize citizens and maintain momentum ahead of elections.

Özgür Özel’s Speech: From Eskişehir’s Soil to Global Stakes

Taking the stage after the reading, Özel opened by saluting Eskişehir’s transformation into a “symbol of modern Turkey” and the legacy of late mayor Yılmaz Büyükerşen. But the speech quickly shifted into a strategic and geopolitical warning — about the rare earth elements discovered in Beylikova, which Özel called “the miracle materials of our age.”

“These elements will shape the future of technology and industry — and they are here, in Eskişehir. But we will never let anyone sell them off through secret deals. We will not let Erdoğan hand Turkey’s resources to foreign powers.”

The CHP leader alleged that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his recent visit to the United States, discussed transferring Turkey’s rare earth reserves to Donald Trump’s business circle — framing it as a betrayal of national sovereignty.

“Turkey holds the fifth-largest reserves of these materials in the world,” Özel said. “If we hand them over, it would be like giving away the golden goose.”

He accused Erdoğan of “seeking legitimacy abroad after losing it at home,” claiming the president made concessions on taxes and investments to secure political favor, adding,

“Yesterday he gave whatever FETÖ asked for; today, he’s giving whatever Trump wants.”

Economic Critique and Social Promises

Özel shifted focus to Turkey’s economic hardship, vowing a social agenda rooted in justice and equality.

He criticized the government for policies that left pensioners and students struggling, promising that under CHP rule:

• Pensioners would regain purchasing power.

• Students would be provided new state-funded “Republic Dormitories” built through TOKİ, Turkey’s housing development authority.

• Youth would enjoy digital freedom and economic mobility under the slogan:

  “A Turkey without bans, a Europe without visas.”

Attacking the “Spy” Allegations: “A Trabzon Patriot, Not a Traitor”

Özel also addressed the ongoing case against İmamoğlu, describing the espionage accusations as politically motivated fabrications.

“They are trying to paint a patriotic son of Trabzon as a spy,” Özel said. “No one believes it. If you want to find traitors, look among those who sold Ankara piece by piece, who protected FETÖ, who defended sham trials against our army.”

He invoked cases of institutional data theft and government scandals, saying, “Those who accuse us of espionage are the ones who let the nation’s data be stolen and sold abroad.”

Rallying the Base: A Movement Beyond One Man

The Eskişehir rally was more than a protest — it was a show of resilience. With banners reading “We Stand with Ekrem” and “National Will Cannot Be Imprisoned,” the atmosphere combined defiance and optimism.

For Özel, the message was clear:

“Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s party produces patriots, not spies. No one will silence this movement.”

The crowd erupted into chants of “Halkın başkanı Ekrem!” (“Ekrem, the people’s president!”) as Özel concluded with a promise to “end a century-old cycle of submission and reclaim the Republic for its people.”