A party's struggle with its own memory

When we look at the historical process of the Republican People's Party (CHP), we see that under the leadership and guidance of Atatürk, the Republic of Turkey was founded in the dark steppes of Anatolia against internal and external exploiters and imperialism, with blood and tears. Throughout this historical process from its foundation to the present day, the CHP has never been associated with corruption or irregularity.

For this reason, neither history nor any CHP member accepts, or will ever accept, those who use the party's identity for their own future and interests, or those whose corruption has been legally proven. The relationship with the party of those thought to be using the CHP for their own political future or imperialist interests should be severed immediately until they are cleared.

While the CHP should be returning to its founding values, it is seen that it is seeking salvation in neo-liberal policies. These social and economic policies are not Kemalist; in fact, they are in open conflict with Kemalism.

There is neither a clear thought nor a strong discourse on topics such as the national labor oath, planned economy, welfare nationalism, economic nationalism, public-oriented economy, the fight against poverty and corruption, agriculture, class unionism, a livable wage instead of a minimum wage, migration policies, the economics of education, a national and independent understanding of education, the reconstruction of the state, industrialization, re-nationalization, election law, administrative and financial sharing, fair income distribution, a humanly livable retirement, and the fight against sects and religious communities.

Handing over the party to a person who has problems with the Republic, Atatürk, and the founding values; who is arm-in-arm with monetarist and counter-revolutionary understandings; and who has never been a CHP member at any point in their life—and furthermore, placing the CHP under this heavy burden during a period when allegations of irregularity and corruption are at their peak—is a clear act of negligence and delusion.

Failing to put forward a consistent policy even in the "Turkey without terrorism" discourse; providing members to a commission but not going to İmralı, is a drift that cannot even be explained within itself. You are either in or you are out; it is that clear. While the country has hundreds of fundamental problems, confining the party to a room in Silivri is no longer sustainable.

The CHP will either courageously return to its founding intellect and populist line, or it will drift into an identityless political uncertainty. History does not write about those who hesitate, but about those who take responsibility. Today, the issue is not the seat, but the future of the Republic.