Turkey's agenda is in turmoil with developments surrounding the main opposition - the Republican People's Party (CHP). The decision of the CHP's 38th congress on November 4-5, 2023, was annulled by the court, deeming it "absolutely invalid" ("mutlak butlan"). With the court's decision, Özgür Özel, who was elected chairman of the CHP at the 38th congress, was removed from his post, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was reinstated to the leadership.
Modern.az reports, citing Turkish media, that after yesterday's court decision, an extraordinary meeting of the Central Executive Board, chaired by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, lasted 5 hours. The CHP Central Executive Board decided "not to leave the headquarters."
Özgür Özel did not rule out that the court's "mutlak butlan" decision was issued under the patronage of the ruling AK Party.
"Some did not accept our victory in the congress. Others could not digest our victory in the local elections."
According to Özgür Özel, the CHP has appealed to the "Yargıtay" (the highest civil and criminal court of appeal) for the annulment of the "absolute invalidity" decision. The CHP will also apply to the Supreme Election Board today.
"We expect the Yargıtay to annul this temporary decision and save Turkey from a disaster," Özgür Özel emphasized.
"We are fighting a legal battle. We will not lay down the flag given to us. We owe it to the people; we will not abandon either the people or the party halfway."
In response to a question about whether he had spoken to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Özgür Özel said: "I have received many calls on my phone. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is among those who called. I have not yet returned his call. Anyway, what would we talk about if I returned it? I don't even want to assume that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu would want to return to the chairmanship of the CHP, to which he was honorably elected before, with such a court decision. But some statements and approaches indicate this. However, Kılıçdaroğlu's phone will be returned in some way anyway."
Özgür Özel said this while the crowd gathered in front of the CHP building chanted "traitor Kemal":
"I call everyone to struggle, resistance, and to the squares. We are on duty, in resistance, to protect the ancestral home. If they do not draw conclusions from this crowd, we will use our strength if necessary. But we will not surrender. The responsibility for anything that happens after this is not mine. The responsibility belongs to these coup plotters."
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was reinstated to the CHP leadership by the court, received the "mutlak butlan" decision yesterday while in his office. In his first post on his social media account after the decision, he indirectly announced that he accepted the position of CHP chairman:
"The CHP is not a battleground for personal ambitions. The CHP is the sovereignty document of our people. The court's decision regarding our 38th extraordinary congress should not be a cause for division, but an opportunity to unite under our centuries-old plane tree. Today is not a day to harm each other with shouts of joy. Today is a day to put aside resentments and rise up with seriousness, calmness, and embrace. We must manage this process not with 'if only's, but with seriousness, sincerity stemming from our party culture, and common sense. Not personal ambitions, but the future of Turkey is paramount. In this framework, we will conduct the process in full harmony and cooperation with our former general chairmen, CHP Assembly members, deputies, provincial and district chairmen. No one should worry, we will lead our party out of these disputes and continue our march towards power. I invite everyone to calmness and common sense. We are together."
Kılıçdaroğlu, who learned about the decision in his office, went home a while later and met with some deputies there.
Turkish Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek also commented on the court's "mutlak butlan" decision regarding the CHP.
Stating that the court made an important decision, Gürlek said:
"At the center of this decision is the protection of direct democratic will. Because, regardless of the party, the violation of the will of the representative and member by interest, pressure, or direction cannot be accepted. It should be especially emphasized that this process started directly with the applications of the Republican People's Party representatives, and was shaped by the statements and testimonies of the CHP representatives. The judicial bodies also made their decision independently and impartially by carefully examining the claims, investigation files, witness statements, and evidence obtained."
Akın Gürlek also stated that the way is open for an appeal against this decision.
"The process will continue within the legal system. It is of great importance that everyone respects this process and makes their evaluations within the framework of the law, and expresses their objections within the legal system," the minister added.
A. Gafarli
