When CHP deputies became mayors, the seats left vacant in the Parliament were overshadowed by the will of the voters; if you leave politics to the cunning of foxes, the CHP is not the CHP. For years, the Parliament has been the voice of the people, the symbol of representation, but today, with the election of some CHP deputies as mayors, there are empty seats. The seats are silent, but the microphones are screaming.
Özel's Press Statement
In a press statement made with the DEM Party co-chairs on April 6, 2026, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said:“There is a necessity for a by-election right now, it must be held. There will be that by-election, the constitution says so. The will to hold that by-election must emerge. If not, Mr. Numan bears the responsibility for this and so does the ruling party.”
The words are assertive, the tone is determined... So, is this cry the voice of the law or a political demonstration?
Constitutional Framework
The 1982 Constitution clearly states the rules on by-elections:
* A by-election can be held when a parliamentary seat is vacant, but it must not be in the last year of the Parliament.
* The threshold of %5 and the requirement of 30 MPs applies only to early general elections; it is not mandatory for individual seats.
Özel's remarks contain more political perception and show than legal facts. There is an empty chair, but the microphone is full. Politics cannot replace the law; loudly announcing empty seats is not exercising the will of the electorate, it is overshadowing it.
The Importance of Empty Chairs
Let's not forget: CHP's 4 deputies in the Parliament were elected as mayors, leaving a total of 8 seats vacant. The real problem here is that the will of the electorate is considered as a way of doing things.
Voters elect an MP to represent them in Parliament. But if the MP is diverted for strategic plans, the voter's vote is lost in the shadow of an interim plan. The voter sees his or her decision ignored; the vote becomes a political tool and the seats become strategic pieces. Empty seats are not just physical emptiness, but a silent sign that the voter's decision has been devalued by political expediency.
Political Rhetoric and CHP Criticism
And it must not be forgotten: if politics is left to the cunning of foxes, the CHP is not the CHP. Empty seats are not just empty seats, they show that the roots of the party have been shaken.
Strategic Criticism of Özel
Damaging the power in Parliament for the sake of winning local elections is one of the most controversial aspects of Mr. Özgür Özel's preferred strategy. While the goal of winning in critical and highly symbolic places such as metropolitan cities is understandable, it is an unacceptable risk for an opposition party to risk diminishing its already limited parliamentary influence. Moreover, given the wind of change and voter tendency in the local elections, similar results could have been achieved with alternative candidates instead of taking such a high institutional risk.
Today, Özel's shouting that “by-elections are mandatory” cannot cover the fact that he strategically sacrificed 4 MPs. The move in question is not only a winning move, but also a controversial political choice that puts the representation power in the Parliament on the back burner. While by-elections are mandatory when seats become vacant, to rhetoric so loudly about vacancies created by strategic nominations is to substitute political showmanship for the law.
Politics or Law?
The question is this: Will the voice of politics or the voice of the law take precedence? Empty chairs and loud calls indicate a rhetoric that takes precedence over the legal ground. Politics is not just about shouting, but about protecting firm roots and upholding the will of the people.
Özel's loud calls are a warning to voters: When words are strong, but clash with legal realities, empty seats remain empty and the will of the voters remains suspended. The sound of empty seats should not be lost in the shadow of screams.
Can loud calls from empty seats replace the law? Politics is not just about shouting; it is about respecting the will of the people and preserving institutional balances. Özel's strong words may be rhetorically impressive, but when they clash with legal realities, empty seats remain empty and the will of the electorate hangs in the balance.
In short, political spectacle should not be confused with legal responsibility; the sound of empty seats should not be lost in the shadow of screams.