CHP Leader Özgür Özel Slams “Palace Plots” and Economic Failure in Defiant Address
ozgur ozel
CHP Leader Özgür Özel delivers a stinging critique of President Erdoğan’s economic policies and warns against “palace-orchestrated” judicial interference in party affairs.
ANKARA – In a fiery parliamentary group meeting, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel issued a stern warning to the ruling AKP government, accusing it of attempting to bypass the will of the people through judicial maneuvers and “palace-made” plots.
Addressing his party’s upcoming legal challenge—a case seeking the annulment of the CHP’s leadership congress—Özel utilized the legal term “mutlak butlan” (absolute nullity) to describe the efforts of those seeking to undermine his mandate.
“The Palace Cannot Overrule the People”
Özel’s speech centered on a defiant defense of the party’s internal democracy. He directed his sharpest rhetoric toward those he claims are seeking a “trustee” (kayyum) arrangement to seize control of the main opposition party through the courts rather than the ballot box.
“I am calling out to those sitting on the marble floors of the Palace, those seeking salvation from its corridors,” Özel declared. “What the nation did not give you, and what the delegates did not grant you, you cannot beg for from the Palace. We will not allow the records of the dishonorable to go unchallenged.”
The CHP leader linked the current judicial pressure to a broader collapse of the rule of law in Turkey, noting that while corruption allegations against government-aligned municipalities are frequently buried, opposition figures face relentless legal harassment.
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Economic “Cruelty” and the “Ant” Analogy
Turning to the economy, Özel slammed the government’s failure to curb skyrocketing inflation. With official figures showing monthly inflation at 4.18% and yearly figures hitting 32% (surpassing the Central Bank’s year-end targets in just four months), Özel accused President Erdoğan of being detached from the reality of the working class.
“He views the citizen as an ant—something small to be stepped on,” Özel said. “But let me tell Erdoğan this: that ant has a brother, and that brother is the CHP. We will not let you crush the people.”
To illustrate the tax burden on ordinary Turks, Özel highlighted the cost of a standard vehicle. He demonstrated that for a car priced at 1.2 million TL, the government levies nearly 1.6 million TL in various taxes (ÖTV, KDV, and TRT shares), bringing the final consumer price to 2.7 million TL. “This isn’t a tax system; it’s a robbery system,” he added.
A New Platform: akpden.com
In a strategic move to track the privatization of public assets, Özel announced the launch of akpden.com. He stated the website would serve as a public ledger to monitor the sale of “profitable enterprises inherited from our ancestors,” such as bridges and highways, which he claims the government is selling off to cover economic shortfalls.
Foreign Policy and the “Pendulum”
Özel also took aim at Turkey’s shifting foreign policy, criticizing the government’s perceived over-reliance on individual leaders like Donald Trump while being excluded from European security architectures. He described Erdoğan’s approach as a “pendulum policy,” swinging erratically between Washington and Moscow without a stable anchor in national interest.
“The era of ‘horse trading’ and using refugees as bargaining chips must end,” Özel said, reaffirming the CHP’s commitment to full EU membership and a balanced, institutional relationship with both the West and the East.
The CHP leader concluded with a call to action for his party organization, stating that the “march to power” has begun and that the party will remain vigilant against any attempts to appoint trustees or disrupt the opposition’s momentum ahead of future elections.
