Özgür Özel Rally: A Defiant Stance in Çanakkale

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel held the 100th “Respect for the Will of the People” rally in Çanakkale on March 28, 2026. Despite heavy rain, thousands gathered in Cumhuriyet Square to support Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and demand early elections, following what the CHP describes as a “judicial coup” against democratic mandates.

Condemning the “Paparazzi Police” Tactics

The most explosive moment of the rally came when Özel addressed the recent operation against Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım. While stating that the party would fulfill its ethical responsibilities regarding any legal findings, Özel focused his fury on the leaked police footage of the Mayor’s private moments.

• “Police-Paparazzi” Hybrid: Özel slammed the government for allegedly leaking confidential police body-cam footage to pro-government media outlets (specifically naming Sabah).

• The Quote: “Shame on the desperation that turns the honorable Turkish police camera into a paparazzi camera. I felt ashamed on behalf of my nation for those images.”

• The Warning: He compared these tactics to those used by the FETÖ organization in the past, warning the current administration that “ruling through blackmail and tapes” has a dark historical precedent.

100 Rallies for “Democracy and Freedom”

Özel emphasized that the 100th rally was intentionally held in Çanakkale, the “impassable city”, to symbolize the opposition’s refusal to surrender to judicial pressure.

• Support for İmamoğlu: The rally doubled as a platform for Ekrem İmamoğlu’s presidential aspirations, with Özel asserting that the public (by a margin of 60% in polls) believes the current court cases against the Mayor are purely political.

• The “Turkey Alliance”: Özel defined his movement not as a single party, but as a broad “Turkey Alliance” encompassing Democrats, Nationalists, and those who “tear up during the National Anthem.”

Strategic Promises: “The Era of Sons of Ministers is Ending”

Özel framed the upcoming election as a generational and structural shift in Turkish governance.

• Meritocracy vs. Nepotism: He promised that once in power, the “era of the sons of ministers” (referring to political dynasties and favoritism) would end, replaced by the “era of the sons of the motherland”.

• Call to the Streets: He urged citizens to move beyond social media activism and fill the squares: “We will be saved together… those who love their country, follow me.”

Local Politics: The “Social Democratic” Legacy

Özel also took a moment to honor the local governance of Çanakkale, which has been managed by social democrats since 1989. He specifically thanked former mayors İsmail Özay and Ülgür Gökhan, while introducing the current candidate and Deputy Chairman Muharrem Erkek as the city’s new “entrusted” leader.