Former CHP Chairman Altan Öymen Commemorated on First Anniversary of Death

A commemoration ceremony was held at the grave of Altan Öymen, former Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman, honorary founder of ANKA News Agency, and a columnist, on the first anniversary of his passing. Öymen died last year at the age of 93 due to multiple organ failure.

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We learned Turkey's political history from him, both by reading and listening, and we almost lived through it with his narratives.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel attended the ceremony, greeting Öymen's family and friends. He described Öymen as a convergence point for his own family, the CHP, and the press, particularly the Milliyet newspaper. "We learned Turkey's political history from him, both by reading and listening," Özel said, adding that Öymen's narratives allowed them to "almost live" through those historical moments. Özel shared with Öymen's daughter, Aslı, how much the party lost with his passing – a vast accumulation of knowledge, a mentor, a friend in difficult times, and an irreplaceable figure in Turkish political and party history.

Özel expressed satisfaction in having spent time with Öymen in Cyprus for the 50th anniversary of the Peace Operation on July 20, 2024. He noted Öymen's participation in all ceremonies despite the heat and his illness, attributing his energy to his deep commitment to history, the country, the party, and his profession. "Even when you thought he couldn't stand up anymore, when he was so tired, he was the first to revive and ask, 'What are we doing now? Where are we going?'" Özel recalled.

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Even when you thought he couldn't stand up anymore, when he was so tired, he was the first to revive and ask, 'What are we doing now? Where are we going?'

He also remembered Öymen standing firm for 1.5 hours in the cold in Saraçhane, as mentioned by a deputy speaker, and his refusal to sit while speaking during a general assembly, stating, "The Chairman does not sit while speaking; one listens standing." Özel added that Öymen even tried to adhere to party discipline when ordering food. "We will never forget his jokes and warmth," he concluded.

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The Chairman does not sit while speaking; one listens standing.

Reflecting on the current political climate, Özel stated, "He would have been sad to see these days, and he was very sad about what he saw." He added that more difficult things happened later. "But if I learned anything from him, it was to be an incorrigible optimist. No matter how bad the circumstances, there will always be a way out, and these difficult days will pass," Öymen had said.

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He would have been sad to see these days, and he was very sad about what he saw.