Major risk looms: If CHP does not hold a party congress by that date, it may be unable to enter the general election

In the Republican People's Party (CHP), following the cancellation of party congresses by a court ruling, uncertainty has arisen regarding whether the party will be able to participate in general elections. Under the Law on Political Parties, political parties are required to hold their grand congresses within three years. However, because the CHP's 38th Congress in 2023 was deemed null and void, the 37th Ordinary Congress held on July 26, 2020, is accepted as the last valid congress. This situation could lead to the party being unable to participate in general elections if it does not hold a new congress by July 26, 2026.

"THE YSK SHOULD HAVE INTERVENED IN THIS MATTER"

According to a report by Emin Özgönül from Sözcü, former Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Türk, in his assessment of the process unfolding within the CHP, drew attention to legal deadlines, stating: "A political party that does not hold its congress or grand congress twice in a row loses its eligibility to enter elections. Having a parliamentary group does not change this, according to the amended law. The appellate court cancelled the CHP's congresses with absolute nullity, and the situation reverted to 2020. Now, the issue of not having held a congress twice in a row is being debated. However, the Appellate Court's decision is null and void. It does not have the authority to cancel a political party's grand congress. It is also an extremely negative decision for our democracy. The YSK (Supreme Election Council) should have intervened in this matter. The solution is for the Court of Cassation to overturn the appellate court's decision. This would end all debates. A decision that is already null and void would thus be removed."

"ATATÜRK'S PARTY CANNOT BE ABANDONED"

Türk also emphasized that he does not support a group breaking away from the CHP to form a new party to participate in elections, reiterating the phrase, "Atatürk's party cannot be abandoned." He further pointed out that in the event of a possible early election, it would be nearly impossible for a new formation to enter the election in such a short time.

The 37th Ordinary Congress, which took place under pandemic conditions, was held on July 25-26, 2020, at Bilkent University's Odeon, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was re-elected as chairman with the votes of 1,251 delegates as the sole candidate. This congress, which had low participation, is still seen as the party's last valid congress.

With a legal amendment made in 2022, the provision allowing parties with a group in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to participate directly in general elections was removed, and a requirement was introduced to hold congresses at intervals of no more than 3 years. With the new regulation, the provision that "a party that does not hold its grand congress twice in a row cannot participate in elections" came into effect. This has made the next two months critical for the CHP.

Ayhan Sefer Üstün, former Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission and former AKP Sakarya MP, also underscored the legal process, stating, "If the CHP does not hold a congress by July 26, it cannot participate in general elections."

News Source: 12punto