CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu addressed thousands of party members at the public Eid celebration program held in front of the CHP Headquarters. In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu harshly criticized the internal party processes and the congress discussions, and made “apology” and “halalization” statements that will be a bomb on the political agenda.
”The Congress has made the Will of the Delegates Questionable”
Kılıçdaroğlu started his speech by wishing a speedy recovery to the staff of the party bus that had a slight accident on the way to the headquarters from Izmir and emphasized that the current process was not just a presidential race. Criticizing the 38th congress and the allegations that followed, Kılıçdaroğlu said the following:
”That congress is a milestone in Turkish politics. If the internal democracy of a political party is crippled, the democracy of the country is also crippled. If the will of a party's delegates becomes questionable, trust in the will of the nation is shaken. I ask you: Did we raise this party so that our reputation could be trampled in courtrooms? Who tried to make our party, the relic of our ancestors, an appetizer for pavilion tables? Who brought our trust to the court gates?”
”I will bring the ballot box to you as soon as possible”
Giving a clear answer to the question “What are you going to do?” Kılıçdaroğlu said, “I will be accountable, accountable; everyone should know this. Then I will bring the convention ballot box in front of you as soon as possible. We will have a clean, clean convention,” he said, signaling a new convention process. The CHP leader exclaimed that he has no connection with any terrorist organization or foreign focal point and stated that not a single penny of forbidden food has passed down his throat.
Historic Confession and Apology: “I was stabbed in the back”
The most striking moments of his speech were Kılıçdaroğlu's apologies to his party members and the Turkish nation, saying he had made the most difficult march of his life. Admitting that he failed to recognize some elements at the time, Kılıçdaroğlu almost confessed:
FETÖ Confession: “I apologize to you for failing to notice the FETÖ terrorist organization agents who sold their souls and infiltrated our march for justice behind our backs.”
”I have fed the heedless in my bosom”:
“I apologize to all of you for nurturing in my bosom those who begged for help from foreign foci behind closed doors and begged for their consent and assistance.”
Allegations of Corruption in Municipalities:
“I apologize for not being able to remove those corrupt mayors from this party who coveted orphans” rights and engaged in bribery and plunder in the people's municipality. They used my good intentions to stab me in the back. Please forgive me."
”Can there be haram money with grocery bags in the father's house?”
Kılıçdaroğlu harshened his criticism of the administration over the “father's hearth” discourse and brought the allegations of bribery and irregularities to the Parliament. Referring to the allegations in Uşak Municipality and some other municipalities, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “Is there bribery in your father's house, which you talk about at every opportunity? Do you give bribes in boxes, bribes in grocery bags? You will decide how we will walk with those who remain silent in the face of allegations of bribery bags under the roof of the Veteran Assembly.”.
”Gangs of Five, Barons Listen: I'm Restarting the Fight”
In the last part of his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu challenged the government, international loan sharks and criminal organizations, reminding them of his emphasis on “418 billion dollars” and “Halil İbrahim Table” in the 2023 elections:
”As long as Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is alive, as long as this life remains in this body, we will never, ever give you a pass. I will bring the billions of dollars you stole back to the coffers of this nation. I am not afraid! I am starting this fight again. Are you with me?” he asked the crowd in the square for a “promise”.
Kılıçdaroğlu reiterated that they would defend innocent mayors but would not turn a blind eye to those involved in pollution and concluded his speech with the call, “Stand up Republican People's Party, stand up my nation; throw away despair, sunny days are very close.”.