Historic message from 72 CHP provincial chairs: 'Our Chairman is Özgür Özel, our candidate is İmamoğlu'

In the CHP, where waters have not calmed following the Ankara Regional Court of Justice's "absolute nullity" ruling, 72 provincial chairs issued a joint declaration at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on the day of the party's most critical group meeting in its history. Arguing that an operation is being conducted against the party through courtrooms and the blockade of the headquarters, the provincial chairs declared that their legitimate leader is Özgür Özel and their presidential candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu, stating, "First the convention, then the government."

Following the decision by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice to cancel the 38th Ordinary Convention and the subsequent crisis involving forced evacuation by police, CHP organizations descended upon the Turkish Grand National Assembly to put an end to legitimacy debates. The 72 provincial chairs, who gathered at the Parliament under the leadership of CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir and Deputy Chairman Ensar Aytekin, rejected the path they claim is being drawn for the party by the judiciary.

"THE CONVENTION MUST BE HELD BEFORE JULY 25, 2026"

Reading the joint text on behalf of 81 provincial organizations, CHP Adana Provincial Chair Anıl Tanburoğlu stated that the government is trying to paralyze the party through the judiciary, emphasizing that the only way out is the will of the delegates and an urgent convention. Pointing out that the 6-year legal period according to the Law on Political Parties should not expire, Tanburoğlu made the following statements:

"The way to prevent the tension engineered by the government from spilling over from courtrooms to the streets is to convene our convention, which is the arena of legitimate competition. As we have throughout our history, we must return to our own inner strength and the will of our members and delegates to thwart all games. The date for our party's convention must be before July 25, 2026, and must be announced as soon as possible."

"ÖZEL IS OUR CHAIRMAN, İMAMOĞLU IS OUR CANDIDATE"

In the provincial chairs' declaration, a very firm and clear wall was built against potential leadership conflicts within the party and the possibility of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu reclaiming the post. The organizations' commitment to the current hierarchy was declared with the following words:

"Our elected chairman is Özgür Özel."

"Our presidential candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected by the votes of our nation."

"With our motto 'Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation,' we clearly declare: In the CHP, sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the organization. The will of our 2 million members has the power to lead the CHP out of this predicament."

DUAL MEETING TRAFFIC BETWEEN PARLIAMENT AND HEADQUARTERS

While this historic declaration was being read, a scene of literal "dual-headedness" was experienced in the CHP. While the majority of provincial chairs and deputies attended Özgür Özel's 13:30 group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, citing the court ruling, invited party members to the headquarters building in Söğütözü instead of the parliamentary group meeting and delivered an alternative address.

Full text of the statement:

"Turkey has no time to lose; first the convention, then the government. Our party, the founder of our Republic and the legacy of our Ancestor, is being subjected to an attempt to be paralyzed in a way never before seen in our democratic history for the sake of the AKP government's political interests. Our party has etched into its institutional memory what to do during such periods and in the great crises it has overcome. Since the day it was founded, the CHP has been a party of congresses and conventions. The way to prevent the tension engineered by the government from spilling over from courtrooms to the streets is to convene our convention, which is the arena of legitimate competition. As we have throughout our history, we must return to our own inner strength and the will of our members and delegates to thwart all games. Because the issue is not an internal matter of our party. There is no duality, strife, or fight in our party. The issue is our country, the will of our nation. The date for our party's convention must be before July 25, 2026, and must be announced as soon as possible. With our motto 'Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation,' we clearly declare: In the CHP, sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the organization. Our elected chairman is Özgür Özel, and our presidential candidate is Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected by the votes of our nation. The expectation of our members, our voters, and our people who have united against the tyrannical government is for our party to continue its march to power. Our organizations in 81 provinces are ready for both the convention and the government. The will of our 2 million members has the power to lead the CHP out of this predicament and continue its march to power with all its might. Our final word is 'what the people say, happens'."

News Source: 12punto