Towards a historic convention

TOWARDS A HISTORIC CONVENTION…

I am in Ankara…

The hotels have already started to fill up.

Thousands of CHP members are coming to the capital for the 38th ordinary convention to be held this weekend.

The chairman will be elected on Saturday, and the Party Assembly on Sunday.

The 8th Chairman will be elected in the CHP, where the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the founding chairman.

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I know there is great pressure on the delegates, especially from mayors.

I hear and listen to reports that some figures close to both candidates are pressuring mayors to 'declare your side.'

The mayors are quite unhappy because of this pressure.

I spoke with Özgür Özel; he denied the allegation that people close to him were exerting such pressure. However, he stated that he is aware that the headquarters is exerting pressure.

Let me state it without delay; the clarification of who will be the CHP chairman on Saturday will make local administrators the happiest. Because, one way or another, the burden on them and the expectation of 'open support' from the chairman candidates will come to an end.

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So, will the attitudes and behaviors of the mayors regarding their preference for the chairman candidate be an obstacle to their re-nomination?

Özgür Özel spoke clearly on my program on TELE 1 TV. He promised that no matter who the mayors support, he will never deviate from objective criteria in the local elections. He said, 'We will continue our path with successful mayors.'

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He explained that he would carry the party organization, as well as social and political opposition, to the streets. He explained with striking examples how he would protect the rights of workers and laborers, especially in the economy, in an age where technology and robots are beginning to replace labor.

He gave clear answers to the question, 'What will Özgür Özel change in the CHP?' Those who are curious can watch the recording of this program -Anında Manşet with Tuncay Mollaveisoğlu-.

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I attribute the fact that the CHP chairmanship race is at the top of the agenda, even though the voters are so resentful, to hope.

The CHP still and despite everything holds an important place as the brightest torch for Turkey to be saved from darkness.

Even if society is resentful, it does not lose hope in the CHP.

Amidst the discussions and expectations of change, Turkey's founding party is counting down to the convention.

How will the change happen? Will there be a change in the chairmanship along with the party management?

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There is no doubt that there will be a very close race between Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel, who was said to be unable to even collect 100 signatures.

The wind that Ekrem İmamoğlu, who announced his support for Özgür Özel, has created among the delegates in favor of Özel is gradually increasing in strength.

It is being discussed that even if Kılıçdaroğlu wins the convention, he will leave his post after the local elections. In fact, his own statement that 'I will hand over the party to a social democrat' is pushing those who want to stay in politics for many years to the side of the change-makers.

Regardless of the outcome in the chairmanship race and the subsequent Party Assembly election, broad segments of society expect the CHP to pull itself together, to be a source of hope, and to create a new excitement that will take resentful voters to the ballot box.

Kılıçdaroğlu or Özel… The winning leader must be ready for a very, very difficult election atmosphere.