CHP leader Özel says ‘did my best’ to form alliance for municipal elections

Turkey’s main opposition CHP leader Özgür Özel has stated he did his best to establish “the greatest alliance” against the ruling People's Alliance for the local elections. After the unsuccessful attempts to form alliances with other opposition parties, the CHP has been saying the citizens would form a “Turkey Alliance” and vote the CHP against the ruling bloc.

Thursday February 29 2024 12:12 pm

Duvar English

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel on Feb. 28 said that he did his best to form an alliance for the local elections to be held on March 31.

Speaking during a mayoral candidate announcement ceremony in the western Muğla province, Özel said “As the Chair of the CHP, I did my best to seek the greatest alliance against the (ruling) People's Alliance. I made visits and contacts, saying, 'Let's be together. Let's not hand over these municipalities to the AKP or MHP.' We could not achieve an alliance or cooperation in Ankara.”

In the 2019 local elections, the opposition İYİ (Good) Party and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) did not field mayoral candidates for some key municipalities, such as Istanbul and Ankara, paving the way for CHP victories after a 25-year long AKP legacy. Both parties have fielded candidates in Istanbul and Ankara after their reluctance to form an alliance with the CHP.

“(Finance Minister) Mehmet Şimşek says, 'We will switch to tight monetary policy after April 1.' What this means for workers is not getting the raise they deserve, not to increase the minimum pension for retirees. For small shopkeepers, it means new tax burdens, increasing inflation, price hikes and the cost of living. Everyone who is concerned about (the economy) must teach a lesson to this government on March 31,” Özel said.

The general and presidential elections will be held in 2028 in case there will be no snap elections.

Özel also said the citizens have not left their stances since the 2019 local elections despite the unsuccessful attempts to form an alliance now. “That's why I see that we, as the CHP, are taking part together in the great Turkey Alliance against the People's Alliance.”

“The laborer, (Erdoğan) sees as an ant and tries to crush, has a brother. That is the CHP, the republicans, all of Turkey, the Turkey Alliance. The farmer, whom (Erdoğan) ignores, whom Atatürk called 'the master of the nation', has brothers. They are CHP supporters, they are the Turkey Alliance, they are Turkey. We stand behind all of you,” Özel noted.