Statement from provincial chair following defections in CHP: 9 votes from 10 members

Following the March 31, 2024 local elections, the AK Party candidate Ramazan Kurtulmuş was elected chair in the first meeting of the Provincial General Assembly and served for 2 years.

A new election for a 3-year term was held recently in the Provincial General Assembly Meeting Hall. The AK Party nominated the incumbent chair Ramazan Kurtulmuş, while the CHP nominated İsmail Hakkı Elmas.

In the elections for the Bilecik Provincial General Assembly, where the CHP holds 10 seats, the AK Party 8, the MHP 2, and the IYI Party 2, incumbent Chair Ramazan Kurtulmuş received 11 votes, while the CHP candidate İsmail Hakkı Elmas received 9 votes, with 2 blank ballots. Following these results, incumbent Chair Ramazan Kurtulmuş was re-elected for a 3-year term.

"The CHP is a party of open, transparent, and honorable politics, not one of personal agendas, unauthorized leanings, or calculations made behind closed doors"

CHP Bilecik Provincial Chair Ali Özdemir, in a statement made after the events, said, "As the Republican People's Party Bilecik Provincial Presidency, we are carefully evaluating the results of the presidential election held in the Bilecik Provincial General Assembly in terms of political responsibility and organizational discipline. The fact that our candidate received 9 votes despite us having 10 members in the Provincial General Assembly clearly reveals that a situation occurred where the party group decision was not followed. This picture is not acceptable for the Republican People's Party organization. Party discipline, organizational will, and the responsibility of representation are not open to debate for us.

The Republican People's Party is a party of open, transparent, and honorable politics, not one of personal agendas, unauthorized leanings, or calculations made behind closed doors. Whoever steps outside this line will face the determined stance of our organization. The necessary investigation regarding the matter in question has been initiated immediately. Once the person or persons acting against party discipline are identified, all necessary sanctions will be applied without hesitation within the framework of internal party law, regardless of who they are.

We will not allow anyone to damage the labor, struggle, and political reputation of the Republican People's Party organization. This issue is not a matter of one person, but a matter of organizational discipline.

The Republican People's Party is a party that does not ignore its internal problems, but identifies them, does what is necessary, and continues on its path more strongly. Our organization should rest assured.

This situation will be clarified as soon as possible, and what is necessary will be done in a manner befitting the institutional seriousness of the Republican People's Party. We are aware of the responsibility the people of Bilecik have given us, and we will continue to carry this responsibility in the strongest way possible. The Republican People's Party is a party of organizational will and the honor of the people, not of personal interests," he said.