Turkey’s opposition leader: Political regime does not consider women equal: Concrete example is the Istanbul Convention
In his party’s group meeting, CHP leader Özgür Özel delivered a speech covering critical issues such as women’s rights, the economy, foreign policy, and personal allegations against him. He strongly criticized the government’s stance on women’s rights, emphasizing the importance of the “Istanbul Convention”.
Özel accused the ruling AKP of failing to protect women and children, highlighting the rise in femicides and arguing that the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention accelerated this process. He called for the Convention to be reinstated.
On the economy, Özel expressed sharp criticism of the government’s handling of the economic crisis, stating that citizens are struggling to meet basic needs. He accused the government of attempting to divert attention from economic challenges by focusing on external threats, notably criticizing President Erdoğan’s statement that Israel could attack Turkey.
Addressing rumors about his personal life, specifically claims about a divorce, Özel denied these allegations, calling them an effort to discredit him. He vowed to continue fighting against such defamatory claims. He also criticized the legal actions against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, stating that the case was not just targeting İmamoğlu, but also the Turkish people’s right to choose their leaders.
In summary, Özel’s speech focused on criticizing the AKP government, defending women’s rights, addressing economic challenges, and responding to personal attacks.
