Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday received Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which overtook his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in local elections on March 31, marking the first such meeting in eight years that has been labeled “historic” by the opposition and pro-government media alike. A day later, Erdogan reinforced the newly conciliatory mood, saying that he would be returning the visit. “Turkey and Turkish politics are in need of this,” he said.
Speaking after Friday prayers, Erdogan added, “With this step we see that politics have entered a period of détente.” Ozel was quick to respond in kind, saying, “We were able to discuss everything that is on the public’s agenda with Mr. Erdogan,” adding that the Turkish leader had listened and that his team had taken notes.
“This meeting embodies the new style of politics espoused by our party, in which we negotiate with and challenge [the government] at the same time,” Sezgin Tanrikulu, a CHP member of parliament for the majority Kurdish province of Diyarbakir, told Al-Monitor.
The meeting that lasted for an hour and 35 minutes took place at the AKP headquarters in Ankara rather than at the presidential palace, sparking speculation that Erdogan intended to cut Ozel down to size. Photographs of the pair before they sat down showed Ozel smiling. A stony-faced Erdogan displayed less enthusiasm, and his office did not issue a statement on the outcome.
