First response from CHP to Mansur Yavaş's candidacy remarks: 'A natural situation'

Yücel said, "The CHP is a party that calls for 'immediate elections,' not 'early elections.' Therefore, there is nothing more natural or necessary than the party determining its presidential candidate. We certainly respect criticisms, but carrying out this work today is a necessity."

CHP's Yücel addressed criticisms regarding the early announcement of the CHP's presidential candidate as follows:

“First of all, the process of determining our presidential candidate and the method used can certainly be criticized. We respect such criticisms.

However, let me state this: The CHP is a party that calls for 'immediate elections,' not 'early elections.' In other words, it is a party that says, 'The ballot box will be placed before this nation within 2025.'

Therefore, there is nothing more natural or necessary than a party that calls for 'immediate elections' to determine its presidential candidate.

Furthermore, the CHP is a political party that claims to bring democracy to the Republic of Turkey. It is also very correct and necessary for the presidential candidate to be determined not by a specific person or a specific board, but by asking all its members through the broadest participation and the most democratic method. Therefore, we certainly respect criticisms, but carrying out this work today is a necessity.”

MUHARREM İNCE'S RETURN TO THE CHP

Yücel responded to the question, "Has the timeline for Muharrem İnce's return to the CHP been clarified?" as follows:

“Muharrem İnce is a person who has served as our party's provincial head, member of parliament, and deputy parliamentary group chair in the past, and was even our presidential candidate. Today, he is also the leader of a political party. It is more correct and appropriate for our Chairman to announce and share with you the process, timeline, and management regarding the transition of a political party leader into our party.”

'DEBATES OVER LEGALITY ARE UNNECESSARY'

Yücel responded to the questions, "There are criticisms that the primary election method for determining the presidential candidate is not legal. Are you talking about a primary election under judicial supervision? And will the Party Assembly (PM) meet on this issue?" as follows:

“What we mean by a primary election—as we have stated before when candidates were being determined in local elections—is a ballot box where the results will be followed. There are already certain conditions for holding a primary election under judicial supervision according to the Law on Political Parties. What we mean by a primary election; some parties call this a 'tendency poll,' some call it a 'preference poll,' we call it a 'primary election.' A ballot box will be placed, and the results from that box will be followed. Therefore, the debate over whether it is 'legal or not' is unnecessary. The manner in which the presidential candidate will be determined is already clearly regulated by law, but what we want to express and do here is this: To determine our candidate through the most democratic and participatory method by asking all CHP members, rather than by a specific board, a specific person, or multiple boards. The subsequent process will already proceed as indicated by the laws and the legal framework once the election calendar is announced.”