CHP Chairman makes statement regarding his candidacy for presidency: “I am not a candidate for presidency”

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made a statement regarding his potential candidacy for the presidency, saying, “I am not a candidate for the presidency. Do you know what I am a candidate for? To bring Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s and all of our party to power.” Özel made these remarks while answering questions on Habertürk TV.

When asked about recent claims that the CHP has de-emphasized its push for a return to a parliamentary system, Özel responded, “We have not abandoned the strengthened parliamentary system. We are focusing more on issues that directly affect the lives of citizens. If you answer every question with ‘strengthened parliamentary system,’ it might come across as if you don’t know anything about other topics.”

Regarding the upcoming presidential election, Özel reiterated, “I am not a candidate for the presidency. Do you know what I am a candidate for? To bring Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s and all of our party to power. I want to go down in history as the person who ended Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 24-year rule and left a Turkey that has transitioned to a strengthened parliamentary system as a legacy for the future.”

Commenting on the ‘normalization’ talks with the ruling AKP government, Özel said, “It is normal for the ruling party and the opposition to be able to meet in the 100th year of the Republic.” He added that he would not share responsibility for the “24-year wreckage” of the AKP’s rule, stating, “I’m not a fool to take over the wreckage.”

Özel also announced that he would visit the West Bank region of Palestine at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.