Agenda Reviews by Ümit Özdağ: Education, Sinjar, Constitution and Economy

At the press conference he held at his party's headquarters, Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ made evaluations about the education system, the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, new constitutional debates, developments in the economy and agriculture, and the residence built in İmralı for the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, Abdullah Öcalan.

Özdağ criticized the Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin and the education system due to the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. Referring to the 2026 YKS results, Özdağ also reacted to the Türkiye Century Education Model.

Özdağ said:

"The 2026-2027 academic year started at the beginning of this week. Nearly 17 million of our young people started education in schools, and unfortunately, National Education has been managed very unsuccessfully since the day AKP came to power. During the 24-year AK Party rule, 9 Ministers of National Education changed and education constantly lost levels and went downhill during this process. The current Minister of National Education, I call him 'the minister of non-national education.' He was my student in his doctorate, he still understands how he passed me by. "I'm not."

Regarding the results of ÖSYM exams, Özdağ said, "According to the official data of ÖSYM, 2 million 254 thousand students took TYT this year and their average correct numbers are as follows: 6.4 out of 40 questions in mathematics and 3.9 out of 20 questions in science."

Özdağ said the following about the Türkiye Century Education Model:

"The War of Independence and the War of Independence were derived from this name. Atatürk was tried to be included as little as possible. We are faced with an AKP-type education that replaces science and technology courses with religious communities and sects, calling them non-governmental organizations."

CALL TO TEACHERS

Addressing the teachers, Özdağ said, "Continue to explain Atatürk, the War of Independence, and the War of Independence to your students using these concepts," and continued as follows:

"If he comes to your school, tell the minister of non-national education that the War of Independence was not a war to get rid of the Ottoman Empire. If you catch him in the classroom, make him sit at a desk and teach him. Teach him mathematics and science. Teach him our history and culture. Instill Turkish identity and Turkish consciousness in your students, and remember, our young people are entrusted to you and at the same time, the future of Turkey is entrusted to the young people you raise."

“PKK WILL NOT LEAVE A CRITICAL REGION LIKE SINJAR THAT EASILY”

Evaluating AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik's statements regarding the disarmament of PKK-related structures in Iraq, Özdağ asked the following questions regarding the process in Sinjar:

"The issue that Mr. Çelik is talking about involves the PKK-affiliated elements in the Sinjar region delivering weapons to the Iraqi state and the integration of those who are suitable for the situation into the Iraqi security forces. So, how does he lay down his arms? Does he leave one weapon and pick up another weapon? Or will he be integrated into the Iraqi security forces unarmed? Or are the people you refer to as the Iraqi security force actually Barzani and Talabani's men? Here, we ask the AK Party officials, will the process you call laying down arms be done through the armies of foreign countries? To what extent is the Turkish Armed Forces and MİT? Will he be involved in this transaction?

Stating that Sinjar is important for the PKK due to the Iraq-Syria connection, Özdağ said, "We think that the PKK will not leave a critical transit and base area like Sinjar so easily, and it seems that it will continue its existence with a name change, as was done in Syria."

Arguing that the weapons should be inventoried and subjected to judicial examination, Özdağ said:

"To say that the arms delivery process was carried out without taking an inventory, counting, checking and conducting a criminal investigation is an unserious action and is not credible. We are already against the amnesty you granted to the PKK and this entire process. However, it seems that you are determined not to do even what you said you would do properly. Accepting such a weak and wrong action is incompatible with the seriousness and responsibility of the state's mind. From here, he warns the AK Party government once again and states that the historical consequences of mistakes will be great, 'No Terrorism. "When I say 'Türkiye', I want to express that the view of a Türkiye surrendered to terrorism will emerge."

“THERE IS A NEED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION MORE THAN THE NEW CONSTITUTION”

Referring to Ömer Çelik's statement on the new constitution, Özdağ pointed out that the 1982 Constitution has undergone many changes so far and said:

"I wish this AK Party government would deal with the economy, security, justice, education and agriculture as much as it deals with the constitution. They say 'New constitution, new constitution'. They say we will change the '82 Constitution. According to official data, the current Constitution has undergone 19 major changes, the last of which was in 2017. 12 of these were made by the AKP governments. 130 of the 177 articles of the Constitution have changed. There is already a new constitution."

Özdağ asked, "Are you going to change the citizenship in the new constitution and write the 66th article as Turkish, Kurdish, Arab in the introduction of the Constitution? Will you give political rights to ethnicities and sects? Are you going to change the 127th article of the Constitution and pave the way for autonomy? Are you thinking of adding other languages ​​to Turkish, which is the only official language in the Constitution? Is the new constitution requested to give up the nation state and unitary state?"

Özdağ said, "More than the new constitution, this country and its citizens need the implementation of the current Constitution."

“WHEN THE NATION IS HUNGRY, WILL THEY EAT THE CONSTITUTION?”

Özdağ also touched upon the developments in economy and agriculture and brought up the problems experienced by raisin producers. Özdağ stated that the price per kilogram of number 9 raisins was 120 liras last year, and this year it decreased to 95 liras, and said:

"While the producer expects a purchase price of around 150 lira, he cannot even see 100 lira. You say forget about this business. Forget about agriculture. You say liquidate the farm, leave the village, go to the city, settle in a slum in the city, work in the service sector there. The indebted producer is forced to leave even 55-60 grapes to the merchant in order to avoid enforcement action. The farmer, who is desperate and driven to bankruptcy, is trying to sell his tractor."

Özdağ, who said that the farmers had to use loans from Ziraat Bank and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives due to their debts, said, "They apply 70 percent delay interest. You know, inflation was 31 percent? You say that inflation is 31 percent, but why do you apply 70 percent delay interest? What kind of unconscionability is this? There is no justice like this, there is no development like this."

Noting that sunflower and canola producers in Thrace are also experiencing problems, Özdağ said, "Turkish agriculture is abandoned, Turkish farmers are abandoned. Only the constitution is being talked about to please the PKK. When the nation is hungry, will they eat the constitution, brother?"

Stating that the Victory Party defends the planned development model, Özdağ said that his party's "Victory in Agriculture" report has been completed and that they will visit farmer organizations across Türkiye after the report.

STATEMENT FROM ÖZDAĞ REGARDING THE HOUSING DEBATE IN İMRALİ

Speaking about the house built in İmralı for the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, Özdağ said:

"I said months ago that they would build a villa for Öcalan in İmralı, and now it has been confirmed that the villa will be built. Upon the reactions from the Turkish people, they say, 'Well, it's not a villa, it's a 250 square meter house.' What's going on, guys? Isn't it called a villa when it's 250 square meters and two floors in a garden? Is it a house? It's unbelievable. I'm very curious, will this villa be unplastered? This villa should be unplastered. I'm calling out to those who built the villa from here. "Do not throw away the plaster of this villa, so that hundreds of unplastered martyrs' houses will be remembered."

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT REGARDING BILINGUAL SIGNAGES

Reacting to the use of Turkish and Kurdish signs by some municipalities in Diyarbakır and Mardin, Özdağ said, "As the Victory Party, we will not remain silent to this unlawful, unfair and disgraceful attack. On behalf of our nation, the blessed memories of our beloved martyrs and our heroic veterans, after this press conference is over, we will collectively go to the courthouse and file a criminal complaint with our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."

Stating that they will also appeal to the administrative judiciary if there are decisions taken by the municipal councils in this direction, Özdağ said, "As the Victory Party, our stance is clear, our direction is clear and we are insistent on this issue."

KOZİNOĞLU INVESTIGATION: “WE FIND IT RIGHT TO START THE INVESTIGATION”

Özdağ also answered journalists' questions after the press conference. Özdağ gave the following answer to the question regarding the detention order given for Hasan Atilla Uğur within the scope of the investigation into the death of Explorer Kozinoğlu in prison:

"First of all, we think it is right to start this investigation. Explorer Kozinoğlu was targeted by FETO, imprisoned by FETO, and as we have been saying for years, he was martyred by FETO. This morning, two people, both of them cellmates, were taken into custody. There is no clear information about why they were detained. I hope that after their interrogations, it will be determined that they have no criminal connection with the incident. They will be released after receiving information. Especially Hasan Atilla Uğur, who was previously detained. "Considering that he was unjustly held in prison by FETO for more than five years, we believe that he should not be treated unfairly again."

“ALİ DİNÇER ÇOLAK IS STILL VICE CHAIRMAN”

Answering the question about the disciplinary referral of 10 members of the party with a request for definitive expulsion, Özdağ stated that Deputy Chairman Ali Dinçer Çolak continues to serve and said:

"Ali Dinçer Çolak is our friend who is the Deputy Chairman of the Victory Party. He is still the Deputy Chairman and he was not transferred out of precaution. In other words, he is still on duty. Since there was a legal obligation, the disciplinary board's action was required and action was taken within this framework. If we had had an opposite attitude, he would have been both dismissed and transferred cautiously. This is an action taken as a result of a legal obligation. And I think the Disciplinary Board will handle the issue on the right ground."

ANSWER TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM QUESTION

Asked what his party's stance would be if the constitutional amendment was put to a referendum, Özdağ said, "We think that the constitutional amendments should be put to a referendum and asked to the Turkish people. But we also believe that this government will not dare to bring the changes they have planned, namely articles 42, article 66, article 127, article 174."