Main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel declares he will not run for presidency

Ozgur Ozel, leader of Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has confirmed he will not run for president. He made this announcement during a recent interview on a private television program.

Commenting on the issue, Ozel said, “I am not a presidential candidate. The technical director does not take penalties. He gives it to the most correct player. I will nominate whoever gets the highest votes in the polls.”

Regarding his planned visit to Syria, which did not take place, Ozel stated, “I intend to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad and am looking forward to that day. While I did not officially announce the visit or meet with relevant bodies in Türkiye, I suggested they should engage. I want to meet as CHP chairman and as vice president of the Socialist International.”

Referring to the Palestinian issue, Ozel said, “I did not call Hamas a terrorist organization, I said it was committing terrorist acts.” Ozel also said that if Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wanted, they could go to Gaza together.