Özdenefe: "Parliamentary Crisis Has Turned into a Government Crisis Created by UBP"

“The parliamentary crisis has essentially become a government crisis, and the UBP is responsible for this,” Özdenefe stated, emphasizing that the past month and a half revealed significant challenges within the ruling party. She argued that the UBP’s internal struggles exposed the difficulties of functioning as a minister or MP within the party.

Criticizing the government’s inefficiency, Özdenefe said, “The government lacks reliable data, whether on population, healthcare, or education, and has no capacity for governance. While they managed to close a legal loophole in Parliament yesterday, this is only the tip of the iceberg for the UBP.”

"A Party That Claims to Have Built the State Cannot Undermine Democracy"

Özdenefe accused the UBP of failing to uphold internal party democracy, which she argued has broader implications for the country’s democratic governance. “A party that has often governed alone and claims to have ‘built the state’ cannot damage internal democracy without harming the country’s democracy,” she said.

Recalling the removal of Faiz Sucuoğlu as Prime Minister, Özdenefe noted: “Faiz Bey woke up one morning to find he was no longer Prime Minister. Later, he was promised the role of Speaker of Parliament, but that promise was broken too. The UBP has sidelined its own members, creating an environment where trust within the party has eroded.”

She also criticized Zorlu Töre’s time as Speaker of Parliament, stating, “I couldn’t experience a respectful and proper parliamentary process under Zorlu Töre. Even his election was mired in controversy, with the Prosecutor’s Office stating that his self-declaration as Speaker was invalid.”

Accusations of Unlawfulness in the Parliamentary Speaker Election

Discussing the recent election of Ziya Öztürkler as Speaker, Özdenefe alleged significant procedural irregularities. “Three ballots in one round had double stamps, rendering them invalid. Despite our formal objection, it was ignored, and Ziya Öztürkler’s election was published in the Official Gazette without anyone being informed,” she said.

"The Public Sees Everything"

Responding to accusations from the UBP that the CTP was causing chaos, Özdenefe stated: “The UBP Youth Organization has used unacceptable language, even calling us ‘terrorists.’ The parliamentary crisis, fueled by Ziya Öztürkler’s unlawful actions, has become a government crisis orchestrated by the UBP. Öztürkler’s resignation yesterday proves their wrongdoing. The public is not fooled—they see everything clearly.”