Crisis over group deputy chairs grows in CHP: Two formulas on the table against Kılıçdaroğlu's move

The conflict between Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to the post of chairman by court order in the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the current management of the parliamentary group is deepening with the termination of the group deputy chair positions. In the debates that arose after Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to hold a group meeting, the differences between the party bylaws and the parliamentary group regulations became the focal point of the crisis.

Coming to Parliament last Tuesday, Kılıçdaroğlu requested to hold the party's group meeting. However, through the efforts of Özgür Özel and his team, the current management continued to deliver the group speech. Following this development, the Central Executive Board (MYK), convened under Kılıçdaroğlu's chairmanship, referred group deputy chairs Ali Mahir Başarır and Gökhan Günaydın to the disciplinary board with a request for expulsion, on the grounds that they acted against the bylaws. Upon this decision, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) terminated the deputy chairmanships of the two individuals.

Another element that stands out in the discussions is that the disciplinary processes and bylaws of the CHP Headquarters and the TBMM Group operate differently. While the dismissed deputy chairs are demanding an election for the management, it is alleged that Kılıçdaroğlu is planning to make appointments to replace these individuals. Among the names mentioned for appointment are Mustafa Adıgüzel, Sevda Erdan Kılıç, and İnan Akgün Alp.

In this critical process, the roadmap to be followed by Özel and his team has also begun to clarify. If Kılıçdaroğlu makes an appointment in violation of the current regulations, the first option that could be implemented is a vote of no confidence with the signatures of 35 deputies in a closed group session, thereby stripping the appointed individuals of their deputy chairmanships and holding an election to replace them. The second path that could come to the agenda as an alternative is for the TBMM Group Disciplinary Board to intervene and remove the deputies in question from the CHP group indefinitely. Thus, these deputies would not be able to participate in any of the CHP group's activities.

In parallel with the developments in the group management, the decisions to emerge from the meeting of the TBMM CHP Group Presidency Group Executive Board are also being awaited with curiosity. The nine-member board is expected to convene to determine who will speak at the next group meeting and to convey the decision taken to the Speaker of the Parliament. It was reported that Murat Emir will serve as the duty officer during this process.

Speaking to Cumhuriyet regarding the issue, Ali Mahir Başarır criticized the ongoing process with the following statements:

“They are straining society, politics, the Parliament, and all institutions. Neither society nor the country deserves this lawlessness. Think about it, a coup was practically carried out against two group deputy chairs. They were referred to disciplinary action in an irregular manner. Nine of our friends were referred to disciplinary action. Following this, they are thinking of convening a group meeting. We are facing shameful scenes.”

On the other hand, delegates close to Özgür Özel are preparing to submit the approximately 1,000 signatures they have collected for the party to go to an extraordinary congress within 45 days to the party management by Wednesday.

News Source: 12punto