ISTANBUL – Elected CHP Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at a public gathering in Lüleburgaz, Kırklareli, attended by a large crowd. In his 263rd rally as chairman, Özel covered a broad agenda ranging from wheat prices and mine workers to political pressures on CHP and the goal of coming to power. This summary was prepared by artificial intelligence and reviewed by an editor.
Elected CHP Chairman Özgür Özel participated in the public meeting held in Lüleburgaz, Kırklareli. Holding his 263rd rally as chairman in Lüleburgaz, Özel brought political pressures, agricultural issues, and the situation of mine workers to the forefront.
Özel described the crowd as a message to the government. He said about the gathered crowd: "I am not the one who gathered these crowds. It is your injustice and the conscience of this nation that brought them together."
Emphasizing that the government’s pressure policies will not intimidate CHP, Özel added, "No matter how much you attack with all your power, no matter how heartless or ruthless you are, your power won’t affect us; you cannot consume the nation."
Recalling that CHP has governed Lüleburgaz for seven terms, Özel thanked Mayor Murat Gerenli by highlighting infrastructure works, green space projects, the Love Kitchen initiative, and support for university students.
Özel also acknowledged that Kırklareli did not deliver the desired results in the last elections, stating, "We hear Kırklareli’s voice and receive its message; we promise never to disappoint Kırklareli going forward."
Özel expressed support for Bora Balcıoğlu, the Mayor of Silivri, who was detained. He noted that Balcıoğlu, elected with 54% of the vote, is being held at Vatan Security. "He was detained because he stood firm and on the right side of history. Greetings to Bora Balcıoğlu, his family, and Silivri," he said.
Özel also addressed the Edirne Özşen Mining workers who started a hunger strike underground, alleging that the employer cut off their phone and electricity, leaving them isolated.
Calling on relevant ministers, Özel warned, "The mining company must be immediately intervened, and the safety of miners who have lost contact must be ensured. If a single miner is harmed, I will hold you accountable."
Özel said the wheat season is at the center of the agenda in Thrace and shared figures illustrating farmers’ hardships.
He stated that the cost of wheat is 21 lira, but the selling price has dropped to 16.5 lira. "Wheat prices were raised by 22%, but diesel increased by 50% and fertilizer by 115%. In Kırklareli, bread costs 17.5 lira, and 1 kilogram of wheat is 16 lira. Selling 1 kilogram of wheat does not even buy 250 grams of bread," he said. Özel described this situation as "AKP’s corrupt system."
Özel claimed that farmers’ goods are mortgaged to banks and promised that if CHP comes to power, they will cancel farmers’ loan interests once and extend the principal repayment over three to five years. He alleged that AKP provides less than one-fifth of the legal support to farmers and that farmers’ goods over an area the size of Thrace have fallen into banks’ hands.
Özel also responded to claims about internal party disputes, denying any fights within CHP. He defined the core issue as: "The real matter is not ‘the trustee will leave, we will come,’ but ‘Tayyip will leave, we will come.’ It is about ending a quarter-century of exploitation, ending Erdoğan’s rule, and the people coming to power."
He reminded that CHP’s party vote increased from 25% to 38% in five months and emphasized that elected officials have not and will not leave their posts. Özel claimed he is targeted because he opposes American imperialism, saying, "Elected CHP, Özgür Özel, the son of a retired teacher, is targeted for opposing American imperialism. Am I afraid? I am not afraid.
I see this crowd and gain courage," he said.
Özel stressed that no incidents occurred during the 263 rallies in his chairmanship: "Some faint from the sun, some shiver from the cold, but no one’s nose has bled, no one’s wallet has been stolen. These squares are where the foundations of Turkey’s future and hopes are laid."
He concluded his speech with a call for a government march, outlining a broad alliance from conservative democrats to Kurdish democrats, nationalist democrats to socialist democrats. Özel said, "Our slogan is march, our compass is the nation, our goal is power."
The CHP Chairman also noted that since March 19, he has been on the bus for the 117th time and has been present at rallies 263 times since becoming chairman.
