Erdoğan to pay return visit to CHP following talks with Özel

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will reciprocate a visit to the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters after main opposition leader Özgür Özel visited the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) office recently.

The landmark rendezvous between the AKP and CHP leaders, the first since 2016, lasted around one-and-a-half hours, with Özel refraining from issuing any public statements following the visit.

Sources from the CHP characterized the meeting as positive and productive, revealing that the leaders exchanged gifts during their discussion. Joining them were CHP's Istanbul MP Namık Tan and Mustafa Elitaş, a parliamentary leader from the AKP.

AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik conveyed Erdoğan's satisfaction with Özel's visit, announcing the president's intention to reciprocate the gesture at an appropriate time.

Erdoğan's agenda during the meeting included discussions on the AKP's long-pending proposal for a new constitution, which lacks the necessary parliamentary majority. The success of the initiative hinges on garnering support from at least 37 MPs from opposition parties to advance it to a referendum.

Conversely, Özel was expected to address various concerns during the meeting, including the need for "adherence to the existing constitution."

The CHP has been vocal about the non-implementation of Constitutional Court decisions, particularly regarding ex-MP Can Atalay, whose parliamentary status was revoked despite top court rulings.

Atalay, sentenced to 18 years in prison last year for his alleged role in organizing the 2013 Gezi Park protests, was elected to parliament from the Workers' Party of Türkiye (TİP) ranks during last May's elections while in prison.

Moreover, Özel reportedly highlighted...