Former Parliament Speaker Arınç: CHP leader Özel's speech is lawful

Former Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), Bülent Arınç, has declared that CHP leader Özgür Özel's planned speech at the party's group meeting is legally sound. This statement comes amid a contentious dispute within the Republican People's Party (CHP) over parliamentary speaking rights following a recent court decision.

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Mr. Özgür Özel's election as group chair and his speech at the group meeting in this capacity is, in my opinion, legal and lawful. I do not wish to be involved in other discussions.

The conflict centers on who is authorized to address the CHP's parliamentary group. The party's current administration, appointed by a court decision under Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, announced their intention to speak. In response, the elected leadership under Özgür Özel cited a letter from the Parliament's presidency to assert their right to the podium.

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Mr. Özgür Özel's statement, 'I was elected as the group chair. 95 deputies elected me. Therefore, I will speak,' is justified.

Arınç, speaking to TGRT Haber, asserted that Özel's selection as group chair and his subsequent right to speak are lawful. "Mr. Özgür Özel's election as group chair and his speech at the group meeting in this capacity is, in my opinion, legal and lawful. I do not wish to be involved in other discussions," Arınç stated. He emphasized that Özel's claim, based on being elected by 95 deputies, is justified.

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The TBMM also, despite the exact opposite being claimed earlier, decided that the developing situation is legal and opened the group meeting to them on Tuesday.

Arınç also noted that the TBMM presidency, despite initial contrary claims, has now recognized the legal validity of the situation by opening the group meeting to Özel's faction. He mentioned reports that a CHP spokesperson indicated Kılıçdaroğlu's administration would also speak, highlighting another facet of the legal debate. Arınç concluded by urging the Court of Cassation to swiftly issue a definitive legal decision to end the "chaos" and allow all parties to align their positions accordingly.

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I also said in my tweet: The Court of Cassation should issue a legal decision as soon as possible to eliminate this chaotic environment, and the parties should determine their positions accordingly.