Vital meeting in Turkish politics: Date for meeting between CHP leader Özel and President Erdoğan announced

It has been announced that the meeting between CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will take place on Thursday, May 2nd. Erdoğan and Özel briefly chatted during the reception for the April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children’s Day and agreed to meet.

AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel will meet on Thursday, May 2nd. The meeting will take place at the Presidential Palace.

Özel stated that during his meeting with Erdoğan, he would bring up issues such as retired pensions, municipal debts, unemployed teachers, the situation of Can Atalay, the Gezi Park trial, the closure of Taksim for celebrations on May 1st, constitutional amendments, and foreign policy matters.

WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED?

Özel mentioned that there were important issues to be discussed ranging from municipal problems to compliance with decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Özgür Özel said the following:

“The CHP becomes Turkey’s party when it steps beyond the limits of being the main opposition party within the country. Turkey has significant problems in foreign policy. The German Chancellor is a social democrat. The German President has a social democratic background. The Spanish Prime Minister is a socialist. Many leaders President Erdoğan interacts with worldwide are social democrats or socialists. In this regard, I am a supporter of some and sit at the same table with others.

That’s why the Republican People’s Party has significant contributions to solving Turkey’s problems, and it can have more. As the winning party of the last election, we will fulfill all the responsibilities that fall on us to restore some state traditions that have been abandoned for many years. We will discuss all of them with Mr. Erdoğan. We will prioritize and discuss. If we achieve results, we will keep this dialogue channel open.”

THEY MET AT THE APRIL 23RD RECEPTION

Erdoğan and Özel briefly chatted during the reception for the April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children’s Day and made an appointment to meet. Erdoğan invited Özel and other party leaders for tea.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In March 31st local elections Özgür Özel’s CHP (People’s Republican Party) caused President Erdogan to experience a major election defeat, winning the great majority of major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara (both once again) and Izmiir for certain, as well as many other big cities. As it stands now (judging on local election results, only) CHP seems to be the first party in Turkey.