Bülent Kuşoğlu sets a date for the CHP convention! Statement on Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy

Bülent Kuşoğlu, an aide to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu—who was brought to the position of party chairman following the court's "absolute nullity" ruling within the CHP—made assessments regarding the agenda on Habertürk TV. Kuşoğlu made statements on many issues, from the timing of the new convention to party organizations, and from the "absolute nullity" ruling to allegations of a new party.

SETS A DATE FOR THE CONVENTION

Stating that the convention process will be restarted in September, Kuşoğlu expressed that the new convention should be held between December and February, and that it would be appropriate to hold it by March at the latest.

Kuşoğlu noted the following:

"We have an announcement. We will start the convention process as of September. We will hold our convention as soon as possible. The reason I say 'as soon as possible' is this: A moment ago, while explaining the reason for the absolute nullity, I said that the 38th Convention was canceled because it was not conducted in accordance with the rules, procedures, and ethics. According to the court ruling, we will return to the period before the 38th Convention, and the elected management from that time will return. In the meantime, as you know, two extraordinary and one ordinary convention were held until the absolute nullity ruling was issued. The court does not count these either; it does not accept them as valid. Now, if we hold another one, it won't work. We talked about it a moment ago; the file has just gone from the Regional Court of Justice to the Court of Cassation. To ensure it is valid, we say 'As soon as possible.' Lawyers will know this much better, but I am of the opinion that it can be held in the upcoming December-February period, at the latest by March. I think it needs to be done. Because it is said that it cannot be done with the current staff and organizations. Therefore, we need to make changes in the organizations, starting from the neighborhood delegates."

WILL KILIÇDAROĞLU BE A CANDIDATE?

Kuşoğlu also responded to the question regarding Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy as follows:

"In politics, if a chairman says 'I will not be a candidate,' searches begin immediately. Then you cannot govern. At this moment, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu should neither say 'I will be a candidate' nor 'I will not be a candidate.' When the time comes, the convention will be held. He knows very well when to leave politics. But at this moment, there is a drawback to him saying either of these."

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Describing the sending of the court file to the Court of Cassation as an "ordinary legal procedure," Kuşoğlu alleged that the reason for the "absolute nullity" ruling was that the will of the delegates had been bought with money.

Kuşoğlu claimed, "The reason for the absolute nullity is those who sold the party and those who bought it."

PARTY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE RESHAPED

Arguing that it would not be right to go to the convention with the current party management and organizational structure, Kuşoğlu said that the change would start with the neighborhood delegates.

Responding to the question of whether Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would be a candidate for chairman again, Kuşoğlu stated that Kılıçdaroğlu should strategically avoid making a statement in the direction of either "I will be a candidate" or "I will not be a candidate."

Rejecting the assessments that there is a backlash against Kılıçdaroğlu in the public eye, Kuşoğlu claimed that the negative perception created on social media was brought about by "professional and technological manipulations."

EVALUATED ALLEGATIONS OF A NEW PARTY

Touching upon the allegations that there will be separations in the CHP and a new political party will be established, Kuşoğlu argued that the vast majority of deputies and mayors would remain in the party.

Kuşoğlu said, "The Republican People's Party is a 103-year-old party, a brand. No one will abandon this place."

Stating that there will be a "purification process" in the party, Kuşoğlu expressed that this process should cover not only the organizations but also the CHP-run municipalities.

FOREIGN POLICY MESSAGE

Making assessments regarding foreign policy as well, Kuşoğlu said that Turkey should be more involved in developments in Syria and Iraq.

Stating, "We need to be involved in the former Ottoman geography," Kuşoğlu indicated that the CHP would develop a new foreign policy understanding regarding regional developments.