‘If elections were held today, we would be in power,’ says main opposition leader Ozel
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a chat with Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel next to Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus during the 50th anniversary celebration program of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Northern Cyprus, July 20, 2024.(AA Photo)
Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), addressed questions about the normalization process with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as recent election polls, during a television interview.
Ozel asserted that the CHP has emerged as the leading party after 22 years of AK Party dominance. “For 22 years, Mr. Tayyip’s party was the leading party. At the end of the 22nd year, we became the leading party. If elections are held today, we would be in power,” he said.
He further elaborated on the normalization process between the two major parties, emphasizing that the CHP is not adversarial. “We are not enemies. We are the first and second parties of this country,” Ozel stated, highlighting his initiative to bridge the gap, “That’s why I made the first call, and I was the first to visit.”
CHP leads polls
Addressing recent election polls, Ozel claimed that the CHP is leading. “We are doing well in the polls. Some measure us at 34%, AK Party at 32 or 31%; others measure us at 31% and AK Party at 29%. In one poll, I saw 29% to 28%,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the impact of undecided voters, stressing that the final outcome remains uncertain. “Of course, there are undecided voters, and we will see how they lean. In the last local election, they made a good decision. We want to continue being the leading party in the polls, but let me say, nothing is certain until election time,” he added.
