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CHP Leader Özgür Özel Rallies Supporters in Niğde, Vows to Return as Ruling Party Leader
🇹🇷 Turkey /Elections & Politics

CHP Leader Özgür Özel Rallies Supporters in Niğde, Vows to Return as Ruling Party Leader

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • CHP leader Özgür Özel addressed supporters in Niğde, emphasizing that his political ascent was driven by the people, not the palace.
  • He spoke from atop a bank, drawing parallels between the public's support and a powerful, unstoppable flood.
  • Özel vowed to return to Niğde as the leader of the ruling party, fulfilling a promise made by a local citizen.

Addressing a large crowd in Niğde, newly elected Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel declared that his position was earned through the will of the people, not through any influence from the "palace." Standing atop a bank in the Yeni Çarşı, Özel resonated with the enthusiastic supporters, likening their collective energy to an "unstoppable flood."

No one can stand in front of the people's enthusiastically flowing flood. Let everyone know this.

— Özgür ÖzelDescribing the power of public support during his rally in Niğde.

"No one can stand in front of the people's enthusiastically flowing flood. Let everyone know this," Özel proclaimed. He recounted an emotional encounter with a local citizen named Fuat Paşa, who, despite his disability, approached Özel and entrusted him with a three-wheeled vehicle, urging him to "save the party, save the country, come to power, and bring this back to me."

Save the party, save the country, come to power, and bring this back to me.

— Fuat PaşaThe words spoken to Özgür Özel when entrusting him with a symbolic gift.

Özel accepted the symbolic "trust" from Fuat Paşa, vowing to return to Niğde and stand on the same bank, not as the leader of the main opposition, but as the head of the ruling party. He committed to returning the "trust" to Fuat Paşa, ensuring the promise made by the Niğde resident would be fulfilled.

I will come to Niğde again one day and stand on this bank, not as the leader of the main opposition, but as the general leader of the ruling party.

— Özgür ÖzelVowing to return to Niğde after achieving power.

The CHP leader acknowledged the "anger" felt by the public, recognizing the party's long history of being the second-largest party. He highlighted the recent electoral success, where the CHP became the leading party in Turkey for the first time in 47 years, and notably, handed the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) its first-ever defeat since its establishment. Özel emphasized that this victory was a result of the "youthful change team" and their commitment to not staying in leadership if the party did not win.

I see and understand the anger that is happening today.

— Özgür ÖzelAcknowledging the public's frustration during his speech.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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