Erdoğan visits CHP headquarters after 18 years to meet Özel
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters for the first time in 18 years on June 11 to meet with the main opposition leader Özgür Özel.
This visit follows Özel's earlier meeting with Erdoğan at the Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters on May 2, marking the first such interaction between the AKP and CHP leaders since 2016.
Accompanying the leaders in both discussions were CHP’s Istanbul MP Namık Tan and AKP parliamentary leader Mustafa Elitaş.
During Erdoğan's visit, the president's agenda focused on the AKP’s proposal for a new constitution, a long-pending initiative that requires the support of at least 37 opposition MPs to advance to a referendum.
For his part, Özel was expected to emphasize the necessity for "adherence to the existing charter," reflecting the CHP’s concerns over the non-implementation of Constitutional Court decisions.
The CHP has been vocal about the case of ex-MP Can Atalay, whose parliamentary status was revoked despite rulings from the top court.
Additionally, media reports said Özel planned to address the dismissal of Hakkari Mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış on terrorism-related charges.
The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) mayor was removed following a probe into his alleged ties with the PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU.
The Interior Ministry said Akış was actively involved in high-ranking positions within the PKK. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months in prison, concluding a case that has been ongoing since 2014.
Akış garnered around 49 percent of the vote in the recent local elections on March 31. Following his dismissal, Hakkari Governor Ali Çelik was appointed as the acting mayor.
Özel has previously criticized the decision, stating it "disrespects the will of the people of Hakkari," and suggested that the city council should elect a new mayor instead of appointing a trustee.
Erdoğan’s previous visit to the CHP headquarters was in 2006, shortly after the new premises was inaugurated.
The recent meetings between the government and the CHP, labeled as "softening in politics" by Erdoğan and "normalization" by Özel, were initiated by the May 2 meeting and have led to a series of dialogues between ministers and their CHP counterparts.
Recent encounters included Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Mehmet Özhaseki with CHP's Gökan Zeybek, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan with CHP's İlhan Uzgel and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler with CHP's Yankı Bağcıoğlu. The latest meeting took place on June 10 between Interior Minister Yerlikaya and CHP's Murat Bakan.
In a recent interview with daily Hürriyet, Özel described these interactions as "an important step for normalization," noting that ministers will also brief him or his associates on significant issues, especially during foreign visits.