Only one candidate will enter the primary: Who are the CHP deputies who did not sign for İmamoğlu?

The Republican People's Party (CHP) will head to the polls on March 23 to determine its presidential candidate. The party leadership had decided that the candidate would be determined through a primary election in which CHP members would vote, and the application process began on Monday.

While the signatures of 20 deputies were sufficient to participate in the primary, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu qualified to enter the primary as the sole candidate by receiving the support of 116 deputies.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın stated in his announcement at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, "As of 5:00 PM on February 21, 2025, that is, after the 5-day period expired, 116 of our fellow deputies from the Republican People's Party Group have signed in support of Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu becoming the CHP presidential candidate."

Journalist Fatih Portakal reported on a live broadcast on Sözcü TV that among the names who did not sign for İmamoğlu were Deniz Demir, Faik Öztrak, Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, and Sevda Erden Kılıç, who are known for their closeness to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

17 DEPUTIES DID NOT SIGN FOR İMAMOĞLU

On the other hand, the deputies who did not vote for İmamoğlu's primary candidacy have also been identified. According to Aydınlık, the deputies who did not sign for İmamoğlu are as follows:

1- Oğuz Kaan Salıcı

2- Faik Öztrak

3- Orhan Sarıbal

4- Ali Öztunç

5- Sevda Erdan Kılıç

6- Ali Karaoba

7- Rahmi Aşkın Türeli

8- Enis Berberoğlu

9- Mahir Polat

10- Tuncay Özkan

11 - Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi

12 - Rıfat Turuntay Nalbantoğlu

13 - Barış Bektaş

14 - İlhan Kesici

15 - Orhan Sümer

16 - Hüseyin Yıldız

DENİZ DEMİR, WHO IS CLOSE TO KILIÇDAROĞLU, SIGNED FOR İMAMOĞLU

On the other hand, according to journalist Altan Sancar, CHP Ankara Deputy Deniz Demir, a figure very close to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, signed for Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy. In his post on X, Sancar stated, "Demir is one of the closest names to Kılıçdaroğlu, both yesterday and today. It would not be a lie to say there is a very strong bond between them and Kılıçdaroğlu. Demir's signature did not surprise me. Because he was a figure who maintained a respectful relationship with İmamoğlu as well."

THE FINAL DECISION RESTS WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

Although the CHP is conducting the primary process with party members, the final decision will rest with the parliamentary group.

According to the Constitution, the authority to nominate a candidate for the presidency can be exercised by political party groups, parties that received at least 5 percent of the total valid votes in the last general elections, or individuals who have collected the signatures of at least 100,000 voters.

The official announcement of the candidate will depend on the signatures of CHP deputies following the release of the election calendar.