The purge operation within the CHP... Refik Eryılmaz’s warning regarding Kılıçdaroğlu and the MİT

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to his seat by court order after losing the chairmanship at the party congress, remains at the center of controversy within the party. Most recently, former MP Hüseyin Aygün claimed that the CHP leadership acts under the control of the MİT, alleging that Kılıçdaroğlu frequently pressured party members in light of information received from intelligence.

Aygün stated that a list of “undesirable MPs” was created by the state and that Kılıçdaroğlu specifically warned certain MPs on this matter. Refik Eryılmaz, who is at the center of these allegations, explained his views on the developments and the approach of the party leadership.

“PRESSURE AND HESITATION IN SYRIA POLICY”

Hüseyin Aygün claimed that during the conflicts that began in Syria in 2011, Refik Eryılmaz was determined to announce the government’s support for jihadist groups to the public, and that Eryılmaz was warned for this reason. According to this, Kılıçdaroğlu summoned Eryılmaz to his office and warned him with the words, “The MİT is watching you, be careful.”

Eryılmaz also said that Kılıçdaroğlu remained consistently distant regarding criticisms of Syria and that although he took some steps following social pressure, these remained superficial. He described the attitude of the chairman at the time with the statement, “Be careful, he came once, stayed in a hotel, held a meeting with a few people, and left.”

Describing the events surrounding the visits to the US, Eryılmaz added that the return of the released TRT reporter to Turkey was not welcomed by Kılıçdaroğlu. Stating that this situation surprised him, Eryılmaz expressed that the party leadership displayed a contradictory stance during that process.

IMPOSED DECISIONS WITHIN THE PARTY AND THE RESIGNATION PROCESS

Touching upon the MİT warning brought to the agenda by Aygün, Refik Eryılmaz used the expressions, “He said, ‘They might set a trap,’ and stated that the information came from the MİT.” Explaining that Kılıçdaroğlu occasionally conveyed intelligence information to MPs as a form of warning, Eryılmaz pointed to the lack of intra-party democracy as the focus of his criticisms.

He also stated that Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu’s presidential candidacy was imposed in a similar manner and that group decisions were met with backlash. In his own words, he conveyed the discomfort experienced at that time by saying, “You are the chairman, are you mocking your MPs?”

Stating that they faced Fethullahists during the US visit and that he would explain the events of that process in detail in his future book, Eryılmaz drew attention to the fact that intra-party pressures and external warnings were influential in unofficial meetings.

“I BECAME THE FIRST MP TO TAKE A STAND BY RESIGNING FROM THE PARTY”

Refik Eryılmaz emphasized that he took a clear stance in the intra-party conflicts following the developments and was the only MP to react by resigning against the oppressive administration of the period. Expressing that similar unrest was also experienced with names like Gürsel Tekin and Lütfü Savaş, Eryılmaz stated that the discussions within the CHP are still ongoing.

Pointing out that such crises within the party serve as an important test in terms of democracy, pluralism, and freedom of expression, Eryılmaz indicated that these events could also shape the CHP’s demands for change in the coming period.

News Source: 12punto