How do İmamoğlu and Yavaş view the primary? CHP insiders respond

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel announced in his party's group meeting that they have initiated the process to determine their presidential candidate. Özel stated that this process will be carried out until the end of April.

According to the report by Cumhuriyet, it has been learned that in this context, CHP insiders are preparing a directive to determine the details of the primary election process. Party officials stated that the criteria for the primary will be clarified in the upcoming central executive board and party assembly meetings. Noting that for now, only "draft ideas" are on the table, the officials emphasized that they are considering introducing a requirement for candidates to collect a certain number of signatures from party members or convention delegates.

Stating that a specific date range will be announced regarding the application process, party officials said, "There will be no candidacy applications after the announced date. A separate date range will also be announced for members who will be eligible to vote. Three thousand new members joined our party three hours after we announced that our members would be able to vote. We will set a clear date at the MYK meeting and announce that those who become members by that date will be able to vote. Of course, we will also finalize the voting conditions at the MYK."

BALLOT BOXES WILL BE SET UP DURING THE PRIMARY PROCESS

Providing information on the stage of setting up ballot boxes for the primary, the insiders stated that the process will proceed in the atmosphere of a general election. The officials said, "Member lists will be sent to provinces and districts, the lists will be posted for public review, and the objection process will take place. The regions where the primary will be held will be announced, and ballot committees will be formed for this process. The elections will be held on the determined date."

"WE WILL EMERGE UNITED AND STRONG"

Speaking about whether CHP leader Özgür Özel will be a candidate, party members said, "The chairman is definitely not a candidate. He had already announced this before. It is also not possible for him to be nominated by others. Ekrem Bey and Mansur Bey have also announced their candidacies by saying, 'I am ready if my party assigns me the task.' Apart from that, anyone who meets the application criteria will be able to be a candidate."

Regarding whether an intra-party primary would harm the CHP, the officials expressed, "The debates over who the opposition's candidate will be are already harming the party. Determining the candidate through a fair method here will benefit the CHP. The CHP is already a party with a tradition of primary elections. We will emerge from this process united and strong."

Responding to criticisms about whether the primary is too early, the insiders assessed, "We are a party that wants elections this year. We will announce not only our candidate but also our campaign and our election manifesto. It is quite natural for us to determine our candidate early while we have a demand for early elections."

VIEWS OF İMAMOĞLU AND YAVAŞ WERE TAKEN

Responding to the question of whether the primary would create tension between Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, party members said, "Our chairman evaluated the primary decision with the two metropolitan mayors after discussing it with party members. Their views were also taken, and then this announcement was made. Therefore, no matter the result, there will be no division in the party. It will be an intra-party race, and the winner will receive everyone's support."

News Source: 12punto