Önder Sav: The CHP under Kılıçdaroğlu cannot pass the electoral threshold

The appointment of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as CHP Chairman through a decision of absolute nullity and the subsequent developments continue to occupy the agenda.

While Kılıçdaroğlu and his team have initiated a purge process within the party, all eyes have turned to the elected Chairman, Özgür Özel. Özel and his camp, who have stated their determination to continue their struggle within the CHP by exhausting all legal avenues, also have the possibility of a new party on the table.

Legal expert and former CHP Secretary General Önder Sav made significant assessments regarding the developments in the party.

Speaking to Nefes columnist Aytunç Erkin, Sav noted that it is unclear when the party congress will be held and said the following:

"There is a significant risk. The Party Assembly (PM) and the Central Executive Board (MYK) led by Mr. Kemal have fallen due to resignations. Only 30 people remained after the resignations. With the decisions of a fallen PM and a fallen MYK, deputies, provincial and district heads are being expelled, and provincial and district executive boards are being dismissed.

The party has entered an extraordinarily lawless phase.

Actually, the chairman should call for a congress. There is no such thing as an injunction or absolute nullity, for heaven's sake. Members have collected signatures, and a congress must be held. But it is not being held, and then a situation involving the courts arises. No one wants to see these issues that will be dealt with through open-ended court decisions."

Continuing his speech, Sav addressed the 'null and void' leadership, asking, "What will you do if the Supreme Election Council (YSK) ignores the CHP when determining the parties that will enter the elections tomorrow or the next day? Will that mass, which has devoted itself to the principles of the CHP, the democratic secular republic, and Atatürk's principles and revolutions, be left without a home?" and continued his words as follows:

"Therefore, I believe that holding a congress is mandatory. Otherwise, the thoughts and principles of the CHP, which was founded in 1923, will become unrepresentable in parliament. A party that remains outside of parliament has a weak chance of engaging in politics. It can, but it is very difficult. Will the votes of the mass that will not vote for Kılıçdaroğlu at the head of the CHP be wasted, my brother! Of course, if there is no chance left to engage in politics and breathe within the CHP, both de facto and legally, they will chart their own paths. That is my opinion."

"I REGRET TO SAY THAT THE CHP UNDER KEMAL KILIÇDAROĞLU..."

Sav expressed his view that the party would remain below the threshold in a scenario where Kılıçdaroğlu continues to lead the CHP, with the following words:

"Courts are places that resolve disputes. Instead of resolving the dispute, the Ankara 36th Regional Administrative Court has created a new and inextricable conflict. With the decision of absolute nullity, the situation has become impossible. For this reason, 32 of the country's famous constitutional law experts clearly state that the absolute nullity decision was given by an unauthorized court and that it interferes with the votes of both members and voters.

The Court of Cassation must overturn the legally invalid absolute nullity decision by observing the rule of law. But there is no time left for that! There is no time left for the CHP and the people who want to engage in politics either inside or outside of it. Whatever happens by July 26, happens. If not, troubles will begin after that. Whoever wishes stays in the CHP, whoever wishes takes part in another structure.

When legal avenues and the chance to engage in politics are gone, I see no harm in establishing a new path, a new structure. It is legitimate. Because I, regretfully, do not think that the CHP under Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu can pass the threshold. I can see it that clearly."

"I DO NOT WANT TO INTERFERE IN THEIR INTERNAL AFFAIRS, IT WOULD NOT BECOME ME"

When asked, “What will your role be in the new party process?”, Sav gave the following response:

"I have been a CHP member for 70 years. Leading the establishment of a new party is not my job. That is the job of Özgür Özel and his friends, who were elected. If they see that they have no chance left to engage in politics in the CHP, their consideration of forming a new party should be met with understanding.

Various lies are being fabricated about this; supposedly I am sitting down and preparing a party charter with Bülent Tezcan. I haven't seen a single letter of the charter, there is no such issue. I met with Mr. Özgür once after he was elected chairman and after the absolute nullity decision was given. Other than that, I have not sat down with him to make assessments about a new structure. I do not want to interfere in their internal affairs; it would not become me."

DID HE MEET WITH KILIÇDAROĞLU?

Stating that he has not met with Kılıçdaroğlu, Sav said, "There was no such request from me or from him. Especially, such a request would not come from me. As someone who has worked with Mr. Kemal for six months and served as his secretary general, I am a politician who knows his reflexes and can predict what he will and will not do. I don't want to row in vain."

News Source: 12punto