Özgür Ozel: “Give me the burden. I will carry it.”

The Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, addressed citizens in the Mudanya district of Bursa. Özel, who carried a basket on his back, said, “Mr. Tayyip, forget the basket and give it to me. I will carry the retirees like a lion.”

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel spoke to citizens from a bus in Mudanya, Bursa. When he saw two young people bringing a basket as a protest, Özel called them over. Continuing with his criticisms, Özel stated, “The other day I was listening to Mr. Tayyip. I said ‘12,500 is not enough for retirees, give 17,500.’ He said there is no raise for the minimum wage; I said let’s raise the minimum wage. I said 17 thousand lira is not enough for tea money; it should be 25 thousand as a base price. I said wheat should not be sold for 9,200; it should be 15 thousand. Tomatoes are left in the fields at 2 lira; I said it should not be that melons and watermelons are left in the garden. He says ‘Özgür Bey has no basket on his back, he wants a raise for retirees.’ He says ‘A raise of 2,500 lira costs 33 billion.’ He says ‘I have a basket on my back.’ Young people heard this and brought the basket. I told Mr. Tayyip, ‘True, you have a basket on your back. You asked for votes from this nation, and they put the basket on their backs. Mr. Tayyip says, ‘Retirees are heavy for me; I cannot carry them. The minimum wage earners are heavy, I cannot carry them. I cannot give tea money to my fellow citizens from Rize; it is heavy for me.’ But when it comes to the loyal contractor, the amount suddenly rises to 660 billion lira. I say, ‘Mr. Tayyip, forget the basket and give it to me. I will carry retirees like a lion. We can carry minimum wage earners. We will carry this nation. If you cannot carry, let go of the basket. You are the one who is burdening this nation. It is not the retirees, nor the minimum wage earners, nor the tradesmen, nor the farmers. No matter what you put in that basket, we will carry it. Those who cannot carry will step aside, those who can will come forward. Bring the basket, we will carry it. We will lift the retirees up.'”

Özel promised that if the elections result in victory, these two young people would also be present at the celebrations.