New Party Chairman Özgür Özel made statements regarding the agenda after his meeting with TİP Chairman Erkan Baş.
Making evaluations regarding the fund investigation, Özel responded to the statement "The political burden is on our shoulders" used by AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the day before.
Arguing that the political responsibility for the investigation lies with the government, Özel called for Erdoğan to resign.
“IF HE HAD KNOWLEDGE, HE IS GUILTY”
Evaluating whether Erdoğan was aware of the events subject to the investigation, Özel made the following statements:
"The situation here for Tayyip Erdoğan is this: If he is clearly aware of this issue and everything has happened under his control, he must immediately resign and be held accountable before the law. If he is not aware of it, he must immediately decide to hold an election and someone who has lost the ability to govern should not sit at the head of the state, he must hand over the trust to the nation, to the nation's new elect. Erdoğan has no third choice in this matter. If it is within his knowledge, he is guilty, he is in the process of resigning and being held accountable. If he says 'These are happening without me knowing', he has the ability to govern the state." has disappeared.”
“AN ORGANIZED ROBBERY”
Describing the fund investigation as "the robbery of the century", Özel said that the incident cannot be considered as the act of just a few people.
Özel said, "Of course, an important part of our agenda today was 'the robbery of the century', 'corruption of the century', 'profiteering of the century'."
Stating that the allegations within the scope of the investigation should be investigated comprehensively, Özel argued that the incident was carried out in coordination.
Özel claimed that even though the process took place without Erdoğan's knowledge, it created political responsibility for his close circle and the people he appointed.
PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION REPEATED ITS CALL
Özel, who requested the establishment of a Parliamentary Investigation Commission for the fund investigation, criticized the government's attitude on this issue.
Özel, who argued that in the days when the incident first emerged, statements were made within the AKP that a commission could be established, but later the opinion was expressed that there was no need for this, drew attention to the duty of investigation and supervision of the Parliament.
Recalling the investigation commissions established in the past, Özel said:
"Immediately remind them of this, friends: Susurluk Investigation Commission, or Rabia Naz Investigation Commission, Soma Commission, July 15 Commission and all the established commissions, doping investigation commission... Each of them - except for Susurluk - was established during the processes in which the AK Party was involved, while prosecutors were working on it, arrests were being made, and trials were being held."
Özel stated that the continuation of the judicial investigation does not prevent the establishment of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission.
“WE WILL SEE WHO SAYS 'YES' AND WHO SAYS 'NO'”
Özel said that the opposition will continue its efforts in the Parliament to shed light on all aspects of the investigation and stated that the proposals regarding the establishment of an investigation commission should be voted on.
Özel said, "Today and in the following days, those research proposals will be submitted and voted on so that the nation can see who says 'yes' and who says 'no' to the establishment of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission."
Stating that their party will participate in the work if the commission is established, Özel said that otherwise they will be in communication with other political parties.
ANSWER TO ÖMER ÇELİK: “40 FOLDERS ARE NOT ENOUGH”
Özel also responded to AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik's statements that documents regarding the allegations should be submitted to the judiciary.
Stating that he asked an open question to Ömer Çelik, Özel argued that there are many documents regarding the allegations brought forward by his party.
Özel said, "The spokesperson of our party asked a very clear question to Mr. Ömer Çelik. I said that the issue mentioned by the spokesperson of our party should be clarified. If we were to print the rumors written about Mr. Ömer Çelik, 40 folders would not be enough, not 4. What is talked about within the AK Party constitutes 25 folders of this, what is talked about outside is 15 folders..." he said.
“THE PUBLIC MUST HAVE ACCESS TO CORRECT INFORMATION QUICKLY”
Stating that the allegations regarding the investigation should not be limited to political discussions only, Özel called for the public to be accurately informed and those responsible to be held accountable.
Özel said, "Such people should not have their own schedule or schedule based on their own political interests; the public should have access to accurate information quickly, systemic risks should be eliminated, recurrence should be prevented, and those responsible should be held accountable."
NEW ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE SECRETARY
Özel claimed that they received a lot of information regarding the discussions within the Justice and Development Party within the scope of the fund investigation.
Stating that they are investigating the accuracy of the information and have not been able to confirm a significant part of it yet, Özel said that the names authorized by his party will make a statement in the coming days.
Özel used the following statements:
"It was already clearly revealed yesterday. It turned out that the private secretary of Mr. Vice President was involved in this business, and even though it was forbidden to make transactions on someone else's behalf and account, it was as if friends were pooling money and making transactions from a single account. I think the admission of Mr. Vice President at the podium on this issue is extremely important."
Referring to the allegations regarding the father of a minister, Özel argued that they received information that the amount raised was higher than what was publicly stated.
Özel stated that efforts are continuing to confirm the allegations and that the party executives they authorized will make a statement.
HARD REACTION TO CEMİL TUGAY'S SWITCH TO AKP
Answering the question about Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay's joining the AKP, Özel said that he was very saddened by the development.
Recalling Tugay's previous criticism of the AKP, Özel evaluated the party change with harsh words.
Özel said, "First of all, I have to express that I feel extremely sad and ashamed of what happened. Of course, especially with the expressions used there yesterday, we have seen that there is no limit or limit to impersonality, lack of character."
Stating that Tugay had heavily criticized the government in the past, Özel said, "Yes, that person betrayed Izmir, he is a traitor for Izmir, a traitor for us. You know the feeling in Izmir, he is a traitor who betrayed that feeling. But he is also a puppet for the AK Party."
“AKP APPOINTED A TRUSTEE TO IZMIR AND PUT A BADGE ON A PUPPET”
Arguing that Tugay's change of party did not reflect the will of the voters in Izmir, Özel claimed that the AKP would become decisive in the municipal administration.
Özel said:
"Now you will see that a general secretary will be appointed in the coming days. Statements have already been made on that subject. They will appoint a former mayor. The AK Party will transfer resources there, Cemil Tugay will show his neck at the ceremonies like the 23 April president, all other work will be done under the coordination of the AK Party, we have seen that the AK Party appointed a trustee to Izmir and put a badge on a puppet yesterday."
Claiming that Tugay's decision to change parties was related to the files presented to him and political pressures, Özel argued that the will of the Izmir voters could not be transferred to another political party.
“İZMİR'S WILL CANNOT BE TAKEN HOSTAGE”
Özel claimed that Tugay was put under pressure due to his personal weaknesses and reminded that the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality was won by the CHP in the 2024 local elections.
"He cannot be the owner of the property taken hostage. The real owners of the property are still the people of Izmir," said Özel and continued as follows:
"Nowadays, their will in the last election has been tried to be handed over by some people, for the sake of personal interests and fears, to a political party that is diametrically opposed to Izmir and which it has never allowed to pass. What is taken hostage, captured and possessed is not the will of Izmir."
Özel claimed that what happened in Izmir was part of a broader political process aimed at opposition municipalities.
“IF IT CAN BE DONE IN ISTANBUL, WHY CANNOT IT BE DONE IN IZMIR?”
Recalling the investigations and dismissal processes against municipalities in Istanbul, Özel claimed that similar methods were tried to be applied in Izmir.
Özel said, "And under these conditions, if it is happening in Istanbul, if it is happening in Üsküdar, if it is happening there, what should we do in Izmir? Let's threaten the mayor here. Certain weaknesses are already known to us, they have learned. Let's recruit him through these fears and weaknesses."
“WE WILL TAKE IZMIR BACK AT THE FIRST BALLOT BOX”
Özel reminded that Izmir Metropolitan Municipality was won by CHP and argued that they would win the municipality again in the next local election.
Responding to criticism regarding the candidate selection process in Izmir, Özel stated that candidacy decisions were made as a result of research and evaluations within the party.
Özel said, "In the last election, we had to determine the candidates a month after I became the Chairman. I had a promise to the nation, 'If the party does not come out on top in the first election I entered, I will leave office.'"
Reminding that CHP won the mayoralty in 29 of 31 districts in Izmir, Özel said that candidate preferences should be evaluated based on the election results.
“WE WILL ANSWER BY WINING 31 MUNICIPALITIES IN 31”
Özel stated that he trusts his party's organization and voters in Izmir and announced his goal for the upcoming local elections.
Özel said, "But let me say something like this; when I went to Izmir recently, I said, 'This is the city where I grew up, I promise at least 25 municipalities.' They said, 'It's flying,' they said, 'Izmir is confused.' We won 29 municipalities! I say this from here; we will win one of the biggest victories in history in Izmir in the first elections. In the following local elections, we won 31 municipalities out of 31, together with Izmir." "We will say goodbye and give the necessary answer to this alliance of bulls and hyenas together," he said.
Özel stated that the party change in Izmir would not end the CHP's political struggle and argued that they would regain the majority in the elections.
