Open door from Kılıçdaroğlu to CHP leadership: 'I will continue my active political life'

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who lost the chairmanship election against the 'change-makers' candidate Özgür Özel at the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress in November, made statements regarding the current agenda.

Responding to questions from T24's Murat Sabuncu, Kılıçdaroğlu spoke about his recent meeting with IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the CHP's party charter congress in September, and the normalization period that began after the local elections.

İMAMOĞLU'S VISIT

Regarding his meeting with İmamoğlu, Kılıçdaroğlu said:

“I am the 7th Chairman of the Republican People's Party. I do not act under the pressure of my emotions or the public's ability to set a direction for issues, nor do I see such a right for myself. 

We are all worried about the conditions Turkey is currently in. Even AKP voters are complaining. The party that will lead Turkey out of this difficult predicament is the Republican People's Party. 

Therefore, it is of vital importance that the Republican People's Party acts in unity and solidarity. There may be those who think differently within the party from time to time. Different ideas should be seen as positive in terms of finding a healthier path. 

There will certainly be new searches and new solution proposals, and there should be. Unfortunately, our country is experiencing very serious problems. The way to overcome problems is through discussion. 

Two heads are better than one. Therefore, we discuss things among ourselves, different suggestions come up. In the end, we sit down and make a decision. Within that framework, we present the solutions as the party's solutions. Our sole and common motivation is Turkey.”

CHP'S CHARTER CONGRESS

Speaking about the CHP's charter congress in September, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “There are hundreds of studies in the party's archives regarding the charter. In other words, we have a very rich archive. We also carried out serious work on the charter during my chairmanship. All these studies need to be addressed and evaluated. The obstacles stemming from the charter in front of the party must be removed with a rational policy.”

When asked, “The participation of party members in the process regarding the presidential candidacy is also being discussed. How do you view them?” Kılıçdaroğlu replied:

“The parliamentary group selects the presidential candidate. But of course, it can be done in terms of gauging the trend; that is, the inclination of all party members can be taken. What you call 'active membership' or 'qualified membership'. 

It is important for those who pay regular dues to elect members of parliament, mayors, municipal council members, and general assembly members in the primary. As you said, I had introduced this before, but it was rejected at the congress. 

However, there is now a tendency among congress members that such an arrangement would be appropriate. I hope it passes.”

REACTION TO ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S NORMALIZATION

Kılıçdaroğlu, who reacted to the 'normalization' period that began after the consecutive meetings between AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and CHP Chairman Özgür Özel following the March 31 Local Elections, said: 

“The rhetoric of normalization gives them courage. What will you talk about? What will you discuss with them? If the legislative body has ceased to be a legislative body, if the judiciary has ceased to be a judicial body, if the executive has ceased to be an executive, and if the entire state is tied to the words coming out of one person's lips, what normalization are you talking about?

The state has ceased to be a state. The hierarchy in the army is completely broken. It is unclear who is doing what. 

Therefore, the system has revealed the reality of a state structure that is incapable of protecting itself within a massive lack of system.

Everyone with common sense, everyone who loves their country, everyone who thinks about the future of their children must look at this picture carefully.

If the farmer cannot make a living, the reason is Erdoğan. If there is unemployment, the reason is Erdoğan. If the public has become two poles, the reason is Erdoğan. If the survival of the homeland is in danger, the reason is Erdoğan. The sole reason for the refugee problem, the bankruptcy in the economy, our youth fleeing abroad, suicides, and moral decay is Erdoğan. 

He is the one who called our founding leader a "drunkard". He is the one who called our women "sluts". He is the one who called dissidents "looters". He is the one who divides our youth into "pious and vengeful". 

He is the one who called our party "trash-mud-pit". He is the one who called the Chairman "base". Whoever wants to soften, whoever wants to normalize, be my guest. I will never forget these and accept them.”

"POLITICS HAS AN ENTRANCE DOOR BUT NO EXIT DOOR"

Speaking about the comments that “He is thinking about the CHP chairmanship again”, Kılıçdaroğlu said:

"As someone who has served as chairman in the party, I naturally have to be closely interested in politics. I do not have the luxury of ignoring politics, not looking at Turkey's problems, or not examining the solutions produced for these problems. 

I have to be interested in these. I have such a responsibility. Of course, I am fulfilling this responsibility. 

I write articles from time to time. I express my thoughts on television from time to time. Our citizens come and I talk to them. Mayors come. Political parties come. Non-governmental organizations come. 

Sometimes when I talk to university students, when some say "We are not interested in politics", I tell them this: It is true that you may not be very interested in politics, but politics is interested in you. Because politics determines the price of the bus you ride, politics determines the price of the bread you buy. Therefore, to the extent that you are interested in politics, the political institution attains a healthier structure, I convey my thoughts to them as well.

As the late Demirel said, 'Politics has an entrance door, but it has no exit door.'"

“I WILL CONTINUE MY ACTIVE POLITICAL LIFE”

Stating that he will continue his active political life, Kılıçdaroğlu continued:

“First of all, let me say that I will continue my active political life. Every 10 days, we meet with philosophers, historians, or sociologists and academics, and we sit down. We have meetings for four or five hours. 

I have thoughts on how Turkey can emerge from the picture it is currently in. From time to time, I put these into writing, I write articles. The last article was published in Karar. It was the sixth article on the institutionalization of immorality. It will continue after this. 

Turkey must get out of the ground of immorality. It is a very dark ground, a very slippery ground. It is an extremely dangerous ground for the future of the country. We must absolutely elevate moral values. Otherwise, our end is a disaster.”

News Source: 12punto