CHP Leader Özgür Özel Slams Trump Administration at Socialist International Meeting

ANKARA – The leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, delivered a scathing critique of the current United States administration and the rise of global right-wing populism during a high-level meeting of the Socialist International (SI) Presidium.

Speaking via video link from the CHP headquarters in Ankara, Özel joined global progressive leaders in a session chaired by Spanish Prime Minister and SI President Pedro Sánchez. The meeting, which included high-ranking CHP officials Namık Tan and İlhan Uzgel, focused on the shifting geopolitical landscape and the increasing threats to the rules-based international order established after World War II.

A Critique of “Lawless” Governance

The centerpiece of Özel’s address was a direct confrontation with the actions of the U.S. government under Donald Trump. “We are facing a Trump administration that recognizes no rules, principles, laws, or norms,” Özel stated. He cited recent aggressive foreign policy moves—including the brief operation to arrest a foreign head of state and territorial demands from allied nations—as evidence of a “destructive attack” on the global liberal system.

Özel specifically highlighted the escalating crisis in Iran, commending Prime Minister Sánchez for his principled stance while warning that the world is being dragged toward a “deep crisis and a ring of fire.” While he characterized the Iranian regime as oppressive and authoritarian toward its own citizens, he maintained that the U.S. and Israel cannot be viewed as “apostles of democracy.”

“Democracy cannot be imported by raining bombs on a country,” Özel remarked. “The future of Iran must be decided by its own citizens.”

The Truth About Turkish Defense Industry: İbrahim Kiras

The Rise of “Techno-Oligarchy” and Right-Wing Populism

The CHP leader linked the erosion of global stability to a broader movement involving figures like Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the “MAGA” movement, and what he described as a rising “techno-oligarchy.” He argued that these forces prioritize unilateral power over multilateral rules, leading to an increase in interstate conflicts not seen since 2010.

In a direct rebuttal to the Trumpian doctrine of “Peace Through Strength,” Özel proposed a progressive alternative: “Strength Through Peace.” He argued that democracy is the most cost-effective way to ensure global security because empowered populations are less likely to follow the aggressive whims of authoritarian demagogues.

“We do not believe it is right to force a choice between security and democracy, or between defense needs and the social state,” he added, noting that the economic fallout of war—inflation, energy costs, and unemployment—inevitably hits the most vulnerable populations hardest.

Domestic Struggle: The “Civil Coup” in Turkey

Turning his focus to Turkey, Özel framed his party’s domestic struggle as a critical front in the global fight for democracy. He drew attention to the ongoing legal challenges facing Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom he referred to as the party’s “Presidential Candidate.” İmamoğlu is currently facing trial in a courtroom located within a prison complex, a move Özel and the CHP have long decried as a politically motivated attempt to sideline a popular rival to President Erdoğan.

Özel marked the upcoming anniversary of March 19 as a symbolic date, labeling the government’s recent judicial and political maneuvers as a “civil coup” against the future of the Turkish Republic. He announced that the CHP, which has held 97 major rallies over the past year to protest these developments, would hold its 98th and 99th rallies this weekend to mark the anniversary of this “coup process.”

Leading the Polls Amidst Pressure

Despite what he described as a “heavy climate of attacks and threats,” Özel remained optimistic about his party’s trajectory. He noted that the CHP remains the top-ranking party in all credible public opinion polls since their victory in the last local elections.

“Under this regime of pressure, we are trying to survive, keep our party and our struggle for democracy alive, and dispel the authoritarian darkness,” Özel concluded. “We lit the fire of this change in the local elections, and we are now marching steadily toward the general elections.”

The Socialist International meeting concluded with a shared commitment among member parties to coordinate more closely against the rise of authoritarianism and to prioritize the rule of law in international relations.