Ali Babacan: CHP offered parliamentary seats in more districts

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan met with journalists and made statements regarding the current agenda.

“THE TABLE OF SIX WAS RIGHT, BUT ITS SPIRIT WAS NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD”

“The Table of Six was right, the alliance was right, but its spirit was not fully understood,” said Babacan, adding, “Even within our own ranks, there were those who did not understand what this meant. When that happened internally, the citizens naturally sensed it immediately.”

SELF-CRITICISM: WE COULD NOT INSPIRE TRUST

Offering self-criticism regarding the election defeat, Babacan stated:

“We could not inspire trust. We could not reach the rural areas sufficiently, and in rural areas, Erdoğan’s votes were much higher compared to the urban centers. We actually won in the top 10 provinces, but as we moved toward smaller provinces and rural areas, Erdoğan’s votes were higher.”

According to Ali Babacan, even regarding the much-debated issue of DEVA “entering the elections on CHP lists,” the discussions were always held under the assumption that “we are winning the presidency anyway, let’s also win the majority in Parliament,” and he shared the following:

“We were fully prepared to enter the elections on our own. 1,300 prospective candidates applied. We established eight commissions. Interviews were conducted with all of them. We set up a supreme commission. As the head of the supreme commission, I personally locked myself away for 8 days in a separate office at our headquarters… I reviewed all 1,300 applications on paper...

One week before the candidate lists were to be submitted, the CHP came. First, let me say this: Sometimes the stories of other parties are confused with our story. There were parties that had been talking to the CHP from the beginning and were preparing to enter on the CHP’s list from the start. So, unfortunately, we are being confused. We were not like that...”

“WE FIRST AGREED WITH THE CHP ON 15+5”

Ali Babacan provided new information regarding the debated topic of “DEVA Party members on CHP lists,” stating:

“Before the parliamentary elections, we first agreed with the CHP on ‘15 + 5.’ Because we were reaching 18. 15 candidates in places where it was easier to get elected; plus five in areas where a significant increase in votes would bring results… We agreed accordingly, but later they told us, ‘Your provincial chairs in Siirt and Iğdır are very good. We can make them candidates in the first spot.’ It was completely beyond the initial agreement… We called our friends, and it became 15 + 5 + 2. Both of them, our Iğdır and Siirt chairs, were already on the CHP list and at the top of the list. A day later, they said, ‘There are three more provinces. If your candidates enter in these three provinces—where they are guaranteed to be elected, it’s not just a possibility, but our candidates are receiving a lot of support—which ones? Erzurum, Elazığ, and Yozgat…’ We called our provincial chairs; they said, ‘If we become candidates ourselves now, it won’t work; let’s look for decent names from our organization who are also known by the public.’ Within a few hours, we provided their names. Three more were added as candidates upon the CHP’s request. Did that make 25? Finally, the CHP’s candidate in Kilis resigned. I don’t remember which spot, maybe second or third… They called and said, ‘Your Kilis Provincial Chair is very good. Can you give him instead?’ I called Mr. Yavuz. ‘Also, three provincial chairs didn’t want it themselves, they gave other names. Now they want you, but you can be the candidate or we can give another name…’ He said, ‘I will be a candidate.’ ‘I will work very hard,’ he said. Finally, after the lists were submitted, we placed our Kilis Provincial Chair, Mr. Yavuz, in the spot that became vacant due to the resignation. In total, we had 26 candidates. We started with 15 + 5 and finished with 26 candidates. All of it was upon the request made to us.”

News Source: 12punto