CHP Chairman Özgür Özel calls for Izmir rally: 'We are in the square again'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel has called for a large public rally in Izmir on May 26, following recent events including a court decision and police intervention at the party's headquarters. Özel framed the gathering as a defense of the party's will and the people's mandate.

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We are defending our party, our will, in the people's square.

"We are defending our party, our will, in the people's square," Özel stated in a social media post, inviting citizens to join him. The rally is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Izmir Cumhuriyet Square. Özel invoked the historical spirit of Izmir, calling it the "homeland of those who ignited the flame of the Republic, who did not surrender, who did not bow down."

The call to rally comes after a period of internal party developments and a police presence at the CHP's headquarters. While the specific details of the court decision leading to the police action are not elaborated in the provided text, Özel's rhetoric suggests a response to perceived external pressure or interference. The emphasis on "omuz omuza" (shoulder to shoulder) and "meydan meydanayız" (we are in the square, ready for action) highlights a call for unity and public demonstration.

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Beautiful Izmir, the homeland of those who ignited the flame of the Republic, who did not surrender, who did not bow down... Again shoulder to shoulder, again we are in the square.

Özel's message positions the rally not just as a party event but as a broader defense of democratic principles and public will, rooted in Izmir's historical significance as a symbol of resistance and independence in Turkey. The invitation is a direct appeal to citizens to show solidarity and assert their presence in public spaces.

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We are defending our party, our will, in the people's square; we are meeting tomorrow in Cumhuriyet Square.