CHP's congress process hits a snag with 'decision not to set up ballot boxes': An antidemocratic step

According to the Law on Political Parties, party conventions are required to be held every 2 years. In accordance with this legal provision, the CHP had also decided to hold congresses about a month ago. In a declaration sent to party organizations, the Republican People's Party stated: "In accordance with Article 36 of our bylaws, it has been decided at the Central Executive Board meeting dated July 14, 2025, to initiate the 'Congress Calendar'."

Delegate elections began in the districts on August 13. Following the conclusion of delegate elections and objection processes, district congresses will be held on September 13, and provincial congresses will be held as of October 11. The 39th Ordinary Convention of the CHP is expected to be held in early 2026, according to a calendar to be announced later.

THREE PROVINCIAL PRESIDENCIES MADE THE DECISION

With less than a month left until district congresses, the CHP provincial presidencies of Kars, Ardahan, and Iğdır have decided "not to set up ballot boxes." This decision by the three provincial presidencies has sparked criticism within the provincial organizations. The decision of the Kars, Ardahan, and Iğdır provincial presidencies was evaluated as "a step that ignores the will of the members, a blow to the party's democratic functioning, and an antidemocratic move."

The following statements were included in the statement made by the provincial organizations against the decision taken by the presidencies:

In accordance with the congress decision taken by the Republican People's Party and the party bylaws, it is mandatory to set up ballot boxes in all provinces and districts across Turkey. However, the decision of the Kars and Iğdır provincial presidencies not to set up ballot boxes is an antidemocratic step that ignores the will of our members and is contrary to the bylaws.

This situation deals a heavy blow to the democratic functioning of our party and usurps the right of our members to have a say. We strongly reject this attitude and emphasize that we strongly support the will of our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, to 'put the ballot box in front of the members' and that we have confidence in him.

Furthermore, we would like to specifically emphasize that the Kars provincial chairman openly insulted our members by saying, "it is not a very healthy member list," regarding the current list of attendees. Moreover, these words were not uttered behind closed doors, but in the presence of prominent figures of our party. This attitude not only belittles our members but also damages the internal integrity and democratic legitimacy of our party.