Özgür Özel Dares Erdoğan to Rerun Istanbul Elections, Accuses AKP of Creating 7 Million Gambling Addicts

Summary:

Turkey’s main opposition leader Özgür Özel has openly challenged President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to renew the Istanbul mayoral election, pledging that the opposition would once again nominate Ekrem İmamoğlu. In a fiery speech, Özel accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of undermining democracy through judicial pressure and trusteeship practices, while also claiming government-backed policies have fueled widespread gambling addiction affecting millions across Türkiye.

“If You Have the Courage, Bring the Ballot Box to Istanbul”

Speaking to supporters, Özel framed his challenge as a direct test of political legitimacy. He accused Erdoğan of avoiding elections while resorting to judicial and administrative tactics to weaken the opposition, particularly in Istanbul.

“I have a final offer for Erdoğan,” Özel said. “If you don’t accept political competition, then let’s go to the ballot box. Bring the ballot box to Istanbul. Let the people decide.”

Özel proposed that all members of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality council resign simultaneously, triggering a new election for the city. He said the opposition’s candidate was clear: Ekrem İmamoğlu. Erdoğan, he added, should nominate “his strongest and most trusted candidate” and face voters once again.

“Istanbulites know who runs the metro, who builds the infrastructure and who delivers services,” Özel said. “If you can beat Ekrem İmamoğlu at the ballot box, then you win Istanbul. But after that, you will leave us alone.”

Özel referenced the widening victory margins achieved by İmamoğlu in previous elections, citing results that grew from 13,000 votes to more than 800,000 and later over 1 million. “I am giving you a 1.5 million vote head start,” he said. “If you have the courage, put the ballot box in Istanbul.”

Judicial Independence and Detentions in Focus

The opposition leader sharply criticized what he described as political interference in the judiciary, rejecting government claims of judicial independence.

“Don’t tell me the judiciary is independent,” Özel said. “It is tied to you at the waist.”

He demanded that opposition figures currently facing legal cases be tried without detention and argued that legitimacy should come from voters rather than courts. “Let 16 million Istanbulites decide, not one man, not three judges,” he said.

Özel added that if Erdoğan accepted a rerun of the Istanbul election and İmamoğlu was re-elected, all opposition figures should face trial without pre-trial detention.

Claim: ‘Seven Million Gambling Addicts’

Özel also shifted his focus to social policy, accusing the government of allowing gambling addiction to spread unchecked. He claimed that Türkiye now has around 7 million gambling addicts, a problem he said the ruling party has ignored.

“The National Lottery website has turned into a virtual casino,” Özel said. He accused the government of prioritizing revenue over public welfare, noting that the National Lottery operates under the state-backed Türkiye Wealth Fund, chaired by Erdoğan.

Özel said the opposition had prepared an action plan to combat gambling addiction, which would be submitted to parliament and presented to the public. “We will stop this dark order from destroying more lives,” he said, adding that no one could escape what he called the AKP’s “system of exploitation” alone.

Call for Mass Mobilization

Emphasizing grassroots action, Özel urged citizens to take to the streets and squares if they wanted change.

“If you don’t go out, if you don’t rally, if you don’t protest, this system can defeat us one by one,” he said. “That’s why we are standing here in freezing temperatures. Because students cannot be saved without workers, retirees cannot be saved without youth.”

He called for unity across social groups, arguing that lasting change would only be possible through collective action. “Salvation is not possible alone,” he said. “Either we all win together, or none of us do.”

“We Will Walk Together Until the End”

Özel described the opposition’s campaign as potentially one of the longest in modern political history, suggesting it could last hundreds of days if necessary.

“We may be on the 300th day today,” he said. “This could become the longest campaign the world has ever seen. But it will end — and we will win.”

He outlined a broad political vision that included appointing unemployed teachers, raising public-sector benefits, introducing a basic citizen income, and promoting equality across ethnic and religious lines.

“Are we ready to make this country fair for Turks and Kurds, Alevis and Sunnis alike?” he asked supporters. “Are we ready to go door to door, village to village, and win this election?”

“We will walk together,” Özel concluded. “All the way to the end.”

Source: Turkish opposition rally / public speech

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