Main opposition CHP leader controversially backs gov’t over Turkish House in NY

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Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel on Sept. 26 backed the government over the allegations regarding the Turkish House in New York.

During his visit to New York for a Socialist International meeting, Özel also visited the 36-story consulate building, known as Turkish House. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been recently indicted for accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel from Turkish nationals. In return, Adams pressured city officials to allow the country's new 36-story consulate Turkish House to open despite safety concerns, the indictment said.

In front of the Turkish House, Özel answered the journalists' questions.

When asked his opinion regarding the case, Özel said, “Turkey is not a country that needs to give bribes in the United States, it is not in such a state of helplessness, and it is unworthy of anyone representing the Republic of Turkey to attempt or intend such a thing.”

“If we have received any favors in the process of acquiring such a building that we are all proud of, we have done more for the magnificent area allocated to the Embassy of the United States of America in Ankara,” he added.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara was recently built in Atatürk Forest Farm among the heavy criticism of the architects. They said that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country's founding father, stipulated in his will that the forest farm would only be used for public needs.

His remarks have been met with mixed reactions as the opposition is usually criticized for not challenging the government in foreign policy.

CHP's previous leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu heavily criticized Özel in a social media post, and said, “The CHP is never a party that will whitewash bribery, name bribe-givers as the state and be a partner in this.”

“The institutional responsibility of the CHP, to which the people cling with great hopes, is not to turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings committed under the name of normalization with the government and to be a partner in its crimes!” he said, criticizing the normalization efforts of Özel with the government.

“We announce to those who ask us to turn a blind eye to the mistakes of the AKP under the name of normalization today; We will fight,” Kılıçdaroğlu concluded.

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