'Kılıçdaroğlu' posters in trustee-run Tunceli: 'Provincial administration supports Özgür Özel'

Posters of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to the chairman's seat following the court's 'absolute nullity' ruling regarding the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, have been hung on billboards along the streets of his hometown, Tunceli. Despite this development in the city, which is currently under trustee administration, the CHP Tunceli Provincial Presidency issued a stern statement declaring its loyalty to the elected Chairman, Özgür Özel.

The leadership crisis that emerged in the CHP following the judicial decision has revealed a striking contradiction between local organizations and reflections on the street. In Tunceli, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's hometown, posters reading "CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu" appeared on billboards within the jurisdiction of the municipality under trustee management.

CLEAR REJECTION OF KILIÇDAROĞLU DECISION FROM TUNCELI PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATION: "WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS UNLAWFUL DECISION"

At the same time the posters were adorning the city's busy streets, the CHP Tunceli Provincial Presidency released a very harsh manifesto against the court ruling and Kılıçdaroğlu's return. Arguing that the nullity decision was a political operation, the provincial organization declared its support for Özgür Özel with the following words:

"This decision, which ignores the elected will through an unlawful nullity ruling issued with political motives and aims to create a Turkey without elections or opposition, poses a major threat to our multi-party democratic life. We do not recognize this unlawful decision. The CHP is not a party to be taken over by personal ambitions or petty political calculations. The CHP is the father's hearth of the nation."

"OUR ONLY LEGITIMATE LEADER IS ÖZGÜR ÖZEL"

Stating that party organizations across Anatolia would not accept any power outside the will of the congress, the statement concluded as follows:

"We do not accept any ground other than our internal party democracy mechanisms and the will of our congress as legitimate. Our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, has been elected and registered as our chairman with record votes four times in a row by the will of our organization and our congress. Other than this, no person or authority is legitimate to us."