An example from Atatürk for CHP delegate elections

It was the spring of 1911.

Just as many nations were rebelling during the final periods of the Ottoman Empire, the Albanians had also revolted.

As the famous Unionist Pasha of the era, Mahmut Şevket Pasha, set out to suppress the Albanian Revolt, he took many officers with him, including Staff Captain Mustafa Kemal, who was the most influential staff officer in Thessaloniki at the time.

And the rebellion, which could not be suppressed for a long time, was quelled as a result of Mustafa Kemal's successful plans and effective decisions.

On the return journey, a cavalry exercise was held in the direction of Thessaloniki-Kareferiye, in which Mustafa Kemal also participated, and that evening, many officers sat down for dinner by the Vardar River. Along with the German officers, the German Regimental Commander von Andertin was also at the dinner. During the meal, Andertin raised his glass and said;

-"I drink to the honor of the Ottoman Army that suppressed the Albanian revolt," he said.

No one reacted. Some even liked these words. But one person did not. Staff Captain Mustafa Kemal.

Mustafa Kemal was angered when he heard these words. Even though he was only a captain, he gave his answer to the German Colonel without hesitation;

-"For the Turkish Army, being successful in an internal conflict is not a victory. And I cannot raise my glass in celebration of this event. I can only feel sorrow for it," he said.

Following this,

both during the Ottoman period and in the founding stages of the Republic of Turkey, dozens of rebellions were launched against him, and he successfully suppressed them all, but he never held a celebration for any of them.

Today,

when we look at the picture of Turkey's domestic politics, unfortunately, there are those who, let alone suppressing an internal incident or solving an internal problem, even welcome a Mayor's joining their own party as a victory.

There are those who organize ceremonies.

For example, the Özlem Çerçioğlu issue.

Even though such transitions and party changes should not happen, ceremonies are organized and badges are pinned.

It is presented to the public as if it were a victory. This is extremely wrong.

Another issue is that these days there are congress preparations within the Republican People's Party. Correspondingly, there are delegate elections.

It must be said that, first and foremost, the CHP is a congress party. And it was founded at the Sivas Congress. And the state of the Republic of Turkey was also founded through a series of congresses. In this respect, another name for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is; "The Congress Pasha."

When he arrived in Ankara on December 28, 1918, the people of Ankara welcomed him by saying, "Gongru Pasha is coming."

Gongru Pasha actually means Congress Pasha.

Everyone should know that a congress means national will. A congress means democracy. A congress means that the people who will govern the state are determined by the members and the public through the ballot box.

Although there are some problems and mistakes in practice, the only party that implements this today is the Republican People's Party. It determines its own administrators and, consequently, those who govern the country through the ballot box.

This is the correct way.

But one must be careful about this. It is never a success for Republican People's Party members to gain an advantage over each other in their own neighborhoods due to delegate elections, or for one district/provincial management list to receive more votes than another list.

I would like to remind my friends who are members of the Republican People's Party, founded by Atatürk, of the attitude of Atatürk, who did not consider the suppression of the Albanian revolt a victory.

As a CHP member, my advice to my fellow party members is this; neighborhood delegate elections, provincial/district or General Chairmanship elections are not a success. They are certainly not a victory.

It is a handover of duty, a change of task.

There is no losing person or list. There is only a list that received fewer votes.

On the contrary, the friends on the list that received fewer votes should be congratulated.

Why;

Because they contributed to intra-party democracy.

Why,

because they are the only example in the country's democracy...