Gökhan Günaydın announces: Number of signatures for Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy revealed

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın shared the results of the signatures collected for the presidential primary with the public during a press conference held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Günaydın stated that as of 5:00 PM on February 21, 2025, 116 CHP members of parliament had signed in support of Ekrem İmamoğlu becoming a presidential candidate. The collected signatures were delivered to the party headquarters in a yellow envelope.

Günaydın also touched upon the directive prepared regarding the CHP's primary process. According to the directive, it was stated that individuals who are over 40 years of age, hold a higher education degree, possess the qualifications to be elected as a member of parliament, and can secure the votes of at least 20 CHP MPs are eligible to apply as a candidate. Günaydın noted that applications were received in accordance with these criteria and that the process has been completed.

Stating that member registrations in the CHP will continue until February 28, Günaydın announced that once these procedures are completed, committees and lists will be prepared in accordance with the directive. It was noted that the primary process will be conducted on Sunday, March 23, 2025, and the presidential candidate will be determined.

Günaydın stated that the signatures in question were sent to be delivered to the headquarters along with staff from the group personnel office. The signatures will be forwarded to Deputy Chairman Gül Çiftçi, who is responsible for election and legal affairs.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın

İMAMOĞLU IS A CANDIDATE IN THE PRIMARY WITH 116 VOTES

The steps regarding the CHP's primary process represent an important stage in the party's path to determining its presidential candidate. Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy process will also be influential in shaping strategies for the party's future. Günaydın wished for the process to be beneficial for both the party and the country.

Günaydın explained the number of signatures given to İmamoğlu and how the process will proceed with the following statements:

''Our authorized bodies have produced the necessary decisions, and we have prepared a directive for a presidential election. In accordance with this directive, our colleagues who are over 40 years of age, hold a higher education degree, possess the qualifications to be elected as a member of parliament, and can secure the votes of at least 20 CHP MPs were able to apply as candidates.

As of the mentioned date, our fellow members of parliament have provided their signatures in this direction, and various applications have also been received by our headquarters within this framework. I would now like to share the results of these with you today.

As of 5:00 PM on February 21, 2025, that is, after the five-day period had expired, 116 of our fellow members of parliament from the Republican People's Party Group have signed in support of Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu becoming a Republican People's Party presidential candidate.

The signatures of our 116 colleagues are currently inside this yellow envelope. As you also know, there has been an application by Ekrem İmamoğlu to our headquarters in this direction. As of now, both the signature process and the application process have come to an end.

Member registrations will continue throughout our organization until February 28. Once these procedures are also completed, the committees and lists to be prepared in accordance with the directive will be valid, and on Sunday, March 23, 2025, the primary process for determining our presidential candidate will be conducted.

I wish for it to be auspicious and beneficial for our party, our country, our democracy, and our nation.

I am now sending the mentioned signatures, together with our friends from our group personnel office, to our headquarters to be delivered to our Deputy Chairman responsible for election and legal affairs, Ms. Gül Çiftçi.''