Özgür Özel's first directive is clear! All eyes in the CHP are on the new Central Executive Committee (MYK): Who will be in it?

Özgür Özel, who was elected Chairman at the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, ending the 13-year leadership of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has begun preparations for the new MYK. 

According to a report by Eray Görgülü from T24; it has been learned that Özel, who will announce his new MYK after evaluating it with the Party Assembly, has told party members, “I do not find it appropriate to discuss names for the MYK until the Party Assembly meeting. We will shape the MYK at our PA meeting.”

One of the criticisms Özel voiced most frequently regarding the Kılıçdaroğlu administration was that deputy chairmen were not assigned to key areas during the election process and that these areas were managed by externally appointed advisors. During the congress process, Özel had used the expression, “A party administration that went through the COVID pandemic without a Deputy Chairman responsible for Health, a massive election process without one for Media and Communication, and a grain and nutrition crisis without one for Agriculture; that followed the Ukraine-Russia War, NATO's expansion crisis, and the Syria Issue without a Deputy Chairman responsible for Foreign Policy, and ran them through advisors…” 

A NEW DEPUTY CHAIRMANSHIP FOR DEFENSE POLICIES MAY BE CREATED

It is expected that these criticisms will be taken into account in the CHP's new MYK and that deputy chairmen will be assigned to these areas. According to claims circulating in party corridors, a new deputy chairmanship for defense policies may be created within the CHP MYK. It would not be a surprise if retired Rear Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu, who was acquitted after being detained for a time in the Military Espionage case, one of the FETÖ conspiracy cases, were to take this seat. On the other hand, it is also expected that a deputy chairmanship will be created for the field of foreign policy, which has been managed at the advisory level until now. 

FOREIGN POLICY AND AGRICULTURE ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED

It is rumored that foreign policy expert İlhan Uzgel, who entered the PA from the Science, Management and Culture Platform, will be brought in for this area. Another deputy chairmanship is expected to be created for agriculture. One of the names that stands out on the PA list regarding agriculture is CHP Bursa Deputy Orhan Sarıbal, who is a graduate of the Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture and has held various positions in the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Bursa Branch in the past. However, it is noted that Sarıbal entered the PA from the list of Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, who was put forward against Özgür Özel, and it is stated that he may not be preferred for this reason. 

WHO WILL TAKE ON THE ROLE OF PARTY SPOKESPERSON?

While economist Yalçın Karatepe, one of the names Özgür Özel announced as a candidate for his PA list before the congress, is expected to be appointed as Deputy Chairman Responsible for the Economy, it is stated that Selin Sayek Böke, who served as the party's Secretary General during the Kılıçdaroğlu era and entered the PA from Özgür Özel's list, will continue in the same role and may also take on the role of party spokesperson.

WILL EKREM İMAMOĞLU INFLUENCE THE MYK?

Whether Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who first voiced the call for change in the CHP and supported Özgür Özel during the congress process, will influence the MYK is also one of the questions being wondered about. While it is suggested that the Deputy Chairmanship Responsible for Local Governments could be entrusted to CHP Istanbul Deputy Gökan Zeybek, a name close to İmamoğlu, it is also stated that another name close to İmamoğlu, Özgür Karabat, could be given responsibility for party organizations. 

Another name that stands out regarding organizations is CHP Adana Deputy Burhanettin Bulut. Bulut, one of the names closest to Özgür Özel who played an active role in the change process, served as a municipal council member, Adana Provincial Chairman for more than 1 year, and president of the Adana Pharmacists Chamber for 4 terms before becoming a deputy. Another claim circulating in the corridors regarding Bulut is the possibility of him being appointed as Deputy Chairman Responsible for Health Policies. If the gender balance in the MYK is taken into account, CHP Ankara Deputy Gamze Taşçıer is also among the names being discussed for health. 

WHO IS BEING CONSIDERED TO REPLACE EREN ERDEM?

One of the most debated areas in the CHP during Kılıçdaroğlu's final period was relations with the media. Following the defeat in the presidential election, Chief Advisor Responsible for Media Tuncay Özkan was dismissed, and Eren Erdem was appointed to the position of Deputy Chairman Responsible for Media Planning and Social Media Policies. The PA member whose name stands out for this role in the new period is Journalist-Author Ali Haydar Fırat. It is stated that Fırat could also manage the public relations process along with this duty.

THE YOUNGEST CHAMBER PRESIDENT OF TMMOB IS ALSO IN THE PA

Legal and Election Affairs, which was managed by Muharrem Erkek during the Kılıçdaroğlu era, is expected to be entrusted to CHP İzmir Deputy Deniz Yücel in the new period.

Özgür Özel, who is also expected to include young names in the MYK, is expected to assign Baran Bozoğlu, who once held the title of the youngest chamber president in the history of TMMOB and served as the President of the Chamber of Environmental Engineers. It is stated that Bozoğlu, who has experience as an expert chief auditor at the Ministry of Environment and represented Turkey at many international meetings after taking part in the opening of the environment chapter during the EU membership process, could become the Deputy Chairman Responsible for Nature Rights and the Environment. 

HE WILL EVALUATE ALL NAMES WITH PA MEMBERS

Özgür Özel will present the names regarding the MYK, which he has been working on for some time, to the Party Assembly that will meet on Saturday and will take the opinions of the PA members. Özel, who will enter a re-evaluation process after the PA meeting, will announce the new MYK in a short time.

News Source: 12punto