Breaking news... NEW Party 1st Ordinary Congress has started: Critical messages from Özgür Özel at the podium!

There is excitement for the 1st Ordinary Congress of the NEW Party.

At the congress held today at Ankara Sports Hall with the participation of approximately 1,200 delegates, the only chairman candidate is Özgür Özel.

The 1st Ordinary Congress, convened with the slogan "Türkiye is Renewing", started with the speech of Chairman Özgür Özel.

MYK LIST IS CURIOUS

It is expected that Özgür Özel will include new names in the Central Board of Directors staff after the congress.

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CONVENTION HALL, MOMENT BY MOMENT...

Cumhuriyet covers the first congress of the NEW Party minute by minute.

Here is what happened at the 1st Ordinary Congress of the NEW Party...

11.20 | ÖZEL: 'WE INTRODUCED THE GOVERNMENT TO DEFEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME'

NEW Party leader continued his speech as follows:

"We are the cadres who together won the greatest local election success in history. We competed with the ruling party in only one election. We prepared for the election in 4 months and stood against the government. We won the elections on March 31. We introduced the government to defeat for the first time. Afterwards, we took responsibility for the normalization of politics without falling into arrogance. We wanted to abandon the sterile conflicts of politics and focus on the problems of the nation. Instead of entering into political competition with us, those who lost at the ballot box came to us with the power of the state and tried to intimidate us.

We knew how to get up from where we fell. We went with 45 hosted by all of you. We didn't have buildings, facilities, or buses, but there were millions who believed in us. We talked to people at eye level. Look, one day we were on the orange crate. Thank God, we are in the hearts of our nation. We did not fall down, we stood up. We did not surrender. That day, the nation is standing, hope is standing. This nation now wholeheartedly believes in the future with the NEW Party. Let those who go, let those who heel go. The cowards will leave, the weak-willed will leave. Either the rusty chains of the establishment will surround the nation, or the nation will tear off these chains. "I believe in the nation."

11.05 | ÖZGÜR ÖZEL ADDRESSES THE PARTY PARTIES AT THE ROOM

Chairman Özgür Özel started his highly anticipated congress speech.

"I AM PROUD OF ALL OF YOU TO WALK THIS PATH WITH YOU"

Özgür Özel, who started his speech by commemorating Ferdi Zeyrek and Gülşah Durbay, sent greetings to the detained mayors and said the following:

"In this hall, I see those who do not accept defeat and endure pain. We did not come to this hall on a straight path. The red carpet was not laid out in front of us. The doors in front of us were not wide open. We walked together, overcoming the bumps on our path, passing through the conspiracies, but we never forgot who we are and what we are fighting for. I am proud of all of you for walking this path with you. I'm glad to have you."

11.00 | 7 IMPRISONED MAYORS JOINED THE NEW PARTY

NEW Party Deputy Chairman Yaşar Tüzün read the joint message of seven detained mayors at the 1st Ordinary Congress of his party, and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu, Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel and Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat joined the NEW Party. explained.

NEW Party Deputy Chairman Yaşar Tüzün read the support message of the detained mayors at the 1st Ordinary Congress of the NEW Party.

"OUR RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT CHANGE JUST BECAUSE DARKNESS FALLS"

The message sent to the congress by Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu, Ataşehir Mayor Onursal Adıgüzel and Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat is as follows:

"March 31, 2024 was a holiday that will go down in the history of democracy in Turkey. Citizens said change. They gave us authority and responsibility. The ballot box resulted in the will for a fairer city, a more democratic country, a Turkey governed by the people elected. This strong will for change, which emerged from the ballot box, was not welcomed by the government as a natural result of democratic politics. A heavy darkness fell on the country. Today, we are prisoners in Silivri because we did not surrender the authority given by the nation at the ballot box to political tutelage. What we defend and struggle for What we are giving is national sovereignty, which is the basis of the Republic.

From that day to this day, 'You are not here. A mentality that says 'your vote doesn't matter' is trying to deprive our citizens of their fundamental rights, the right to speak, and a safe future. But the real problems of the country are not waiting. "The safety of our children, preparing Istanbul for an earthquake, the right to housing, the fight against poverty, and making our cities safe and livable stand before us today as a greater public responsibility than ever before."

"WHILE MUNICIPALITY SIGNS STAY IN THEIR PLACE, THE WILL OF THE PUBLIC CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THEM"

"When we were elected, we promised to serve with this understanding. We left lasting works in a very short time. We established institutions. We started services. We entrusted it all to our people. Those works remain in place today. The doors of our nurseries are opening, food is served in our city restaurants, and social supports reach the citizens. While the signs of the municipalities remain in place, the will of the people cannot be removed from them.

While the services provided are embraced, the democratic will that makes them possible cannot be ignored. Moreover, our responsibility is greater than the borders of our municipalities today. We do not see the vote we received on March 31 as a trust to be protected. Every vote given to us is the jewel of our determination to fight for the nation. Fulfilling that vote requires managing our municipalities well, defending the people's right to choose, the right of those they choose to govern, and Turkey's democratic future."

"THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE IS OUR DIRECTION"

"Today, as the elected district mayors of Istanbul, we undertake this responsibility together. What is happening in our country today is not an erosion of democracy with unknown perpetrators. It is the result of the government's policy that takes political competition beyond the ballot box and makes judicial processes a tool for liquidating the elected will. Whatever principle we defend the will of the voters in local government, we also stand in the same place when it comes to the democratic will of political parties.

The people's choice is our direction. We see the intervention against the government elected by the people in a municipality and the will of the members and delegates in a political party as part of the same basic democratic violation. At this point, we have a much bigger issue before us than a party issue: The people's right to choose their own future. For this reason, we decided to continue our political struggle in the direction indicated by our nation, in the NEW PARTY, under the leadership of our Chairman Özgür Özel.

In Turkish politics today, everyone makes a choice. Some chose to maintain their positions and served this. We chose to protect the will of our voters and we pay the price for this with our freedom. The people of this country will decide which one is right. Our mandate is our responsibility, this does not change just because darkness falls. Our doors are locked, but the road ahead for this country is open. "We are taking a step on that path today: We are meeting in the NEW Party founded by the people."

10.57 | CONGRESS MESSAGE FROM PEDRO SANCHEZ, PRESIDENT OF SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

Socialist International President and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also sent a message to the NEW Party's First Ordinary Congress.

Sanchez stated the following in his message:

“Dear Özgür, my dear fellow travelers from the NEW Party, on behalf of the Socialist International, I extend my sincere greetings and best wishes for the success of your Congress, which will be held on November 14. Our organization fights for democracy, peace, equality and social justice. In this struggle, we come together around a common ideal. Political parties; It has an extremely important responsibility to take a leading role in the transformation of societies, to listen to the voice of the people, to prepare future generations for tomorrow while maintaining and defending our fundamental values.

These common principles and values ​​are the basis of why we stood by you when you established the NEW Party. I wholeheartedly believe that, under the leadership of Özgür Özel and the contributions of many valuable women and men, you will achieve significant success in this difficult period we are going through.

To continue our cooperation within the great family of the Socialist International; We look forward to strengthening the progressive movement every day and furthering our common commitment to democracy, freedom and social justice. We wish your congress to be productive and successful; I hope to work together to build a better, more inclusive and more just world that embraces all generations. “With my most sincere greetings and feelings of solidarity.”

10.55 | CONGRATULATION MESSAGE FROM THE LEADER OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY TO THE NEW PARTY CONGRESS

European Socialist Party Chairman Stefan Löfven sent a video message for the NEW Party's First Ordinary Congress.

Löfven included the following statements in his video message:

"Dear friends, dear comrades, it is a great honor for me to address your congress as the President of the European Socialist Party. Even though I cannot be with you in Ankara today, I would like to convey a clear message to you on behalf of PES: We are with you and together. The establishment of your NEW Party is an important political stance."

“WE SIDE WITH THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES”

"This is an expression of courage, resistance and determination to defend democracy and political pluralism in Turkey. Its message is very clear: Democracy cannot be silenced, political diversity cannot be suppressed. Today, more than ever, we have to defend the foundations of democracy: the rule of law, independent judiciary, separation of powers and strong checks and balances. Institutions should not serve the interests of those in power, but should hold them accountable."

We stand in solidarity with Özgür Özel and everyone fighting to protect democratic freedoms in Turkey. We stand with Ekrem İmamoğlu and all elected representatives who are deprived of their freedom and democratic duty. But above all, we must stand together. Unity and solidarity among democratic forces are indispensable. “No political movement should have to face this struggle alone.”

“Long live democracy”

"As the President of the European Socialist Party, I can assure you that you can count on our friendship, solidarity and support to continue. Your struggle is much more than a single party. This struggle is about the future of democracy in Turkey. A free and democratic Turkey is a stronger partner for Europe. We are with you in this struggle. I wish your congress to be successful. Long live democracy, long live solidarity!"

10.50 | VIDEO MESSAGE FROM EKREM İMAMOĞLU: "TURKEY NEEDS A NEW PARTY"

At the 1st Ordinary Congress of the NEW Party, which started in Ankara Arena with the slogan "Türkiye is Renewing", a video message made by artificial intelligence of the detained Presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was shown.

In his message, İmamoğlu stated that the NEW Party has initiated a transformation that will enable the members of political parties to have a say, decision and authority by ending the delegate system and said, "Yesterday was the last day of that old politics that everyone in this country knows very well but could not digest. The delegate system, one of the most important strongholds of the top-down understanding of politics that sees the managers above the citizens, has become history as of today. The old system based on delegate hunting and delegate lordship, where the leaders get themselves elected by the names they choose." "The era of procedural politics is over. Today is the first day of new and free politics. Today is the day when the say, decision and authority in political parties is transferred to the real owner, the members," he said.

Stating that they have initiated a radical transformation that will change politics from beginning to end, İmamoğlu continued as follows:

"From now on, members of all parties will ask the following question: Why don't I directly elect my managers and representatives? Why can't I fully exercise my right to choose and supervise in my own party? Members' ability to directly determine the party management will pave the way for citizens to have a much greater say and authority in local and country administration."

Stating that the Republic was founded on the ideal of equalizing administrators and citizens, İmamoğlu said, "Today is the day when this ideal of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk began to irreversibly penetrate political parties. I am proud of every member of the NEW Party, who achieved this under all the pressure and oppression. I have the honor of walking on the same path with you."

"IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE HEART OF THE NATION, YOU ARE NOT IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY"

İmamoğlu pointed out the situation of parties that distance themselves from the nation and argued that the government is trying every way to not give up the opportunities it has.

İmamoğlu said:

"The situation of the parties that have moved away from the nation is obvious. Even if they have all the power in their hands, if you are not in the hearts of the nation, you are not in the future of this country. A handful of people whose political lives will end in the first election are worried about this. They are trying every way to not give up the opportunities they have. Everything they have is what they have usurped from the nation. They have established an economic, political and administrative order to seize everything that belongs to the nation. Now they are trying to transfer this system of usurpation and profiteering from generation to generation."

Stating that this order cannot be sustained by usurping the will of the nation, İmamoğlu said, "They think they can achieve this dirty dream by usurping the will of the nation. They will not succeed. The nation will not surrender its will. Because we are here. We are here to the end, we are ready to death for the superiority of the national will."

"IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO OBJECT TO THIS ORDER"

Pointing to the delegates filling the congress hall and the millions waiting for a better future, İmamoğlu said:

"They ask us, why does Türkiye need a new party? The answer is in the face of you who filled this hall today. The answer is in the eyes of millions waiting for a better tomorrow all over this country. Türkiye needs a NEW Party. Because this black order not only took away the nation's rights, law and bread. It also wanted to take away their dreams for the future. It made our young people question whether they can build a life in this country."

Stating that the nation has not only objections to the current order but also expectations for the new order to be established, İmamoğlu said, "Türkiye needs the NEW Party. Because the nation now wants to see not only what we stand against, but also what we will establish. It is not enough to object to this order; instead, the will, staff and road map that will build a fair, free and prosperous Türkiye are needed. Türkiye needs the NEW Party. Because it separates people according to their identity, belief, lifestyle, and divides society into poles." "The politics that survives by dividing is exhausted. Our nation is in favor of cooperation, not conflict. That's why we exist."

"WE WILL GROW THE Türkiye ALLIANCE TOGETHER"