Another shock for Kılıçdaroğlu: His name removed from cultural center

The Hacıbektaş district of Nevşehir, beyond its symbolic importance for Alevi citizens, has recently come to the fore with a significant local decision. It has been decided to remove the name of Republican People's Party (CHP) former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu from the cultural center located in the district, which had been idle for many years and was reopened after extensive renovations.

During the municipal council meeting held today, the proposal to remove Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's name from the cultural center was presented to the members and put to a vote. While one member abstained and one member voted against it, the name change decision was approved with the support of the majority. It was learned that Hacıbektaş Mayor Ali Kaim also abstained from the vote.

Looking at the history of the Cultural Center, the foundation of the building was laid during the term of former Mayor Ali Eğer; construction began with a ceremony attended by the late Erdal İnönü, then-Chairman of the SHP, and former Minister of Culture Fikri Sağlar. The building, initially known as the Hacıbektaş Amphitheater, remained unused for a long time and was put back into operation in 2014 following renovation work led by Bakırköy Mayor Bülent Kerimoğlu. With a council decision taken under the leadership of the then-Mayor Ali Rıza Selmanpakoğlu, the center was surprisingly named the “Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Cultural Center.”

CHP former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had clearly expressed at the opening ceremony that he was not very keen on having his name given to the center in response to this gesture. In his speech that day, he had requested that his name not be used, saying, “Giving my name to the Cultural Center could be used against me; they might misinterpret this and think it was done at my request. However, I did not ask for such a thing. Thank you, you deemed it appropriate, but I would be happy if you could change the name if possible.”

However, at that time, the municipal council did not look favorably upon this request, and no change was made to the name. At the point reached today, the implementation of a request that was not accepted years ago, also influenced by the debates within the party headquarters, has drawn attention.

News Source: 12punto