Striking claim regarding the 2023 elections from Kılıçdaroğlu's right-hand man: 'We did not say things we could not prove'

Bülent Kuşoğlu, a former CHP Deputy Chairman and one of the figures who worked with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu for many years, shared his assessments regarding the situation that emerged in the CHP following the "absolute nullity" ruling. Kuşoğlu also shared his views on Kılıçdaroğlu's approach, Özgür Özel's leadership, the legal situation of Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the 2023 presidential elections.

Kuşoğlu, who was among those supporting Kılıçdaroğlu's presidential candidacy in the 2023 elections, stated that they had worked together for many years. Reminding that he comes from a background in the Ministry of Finance, Kuşoğlu noted that he served as a deputy to Kılıçdaroğlu during his tenure as the General Manager of the Social Security Institution (SSK).

"WE HAVE NOT HAD A JOINT POLITICAL MOVEMENT FOR A LONG TIME"

Speaking to Cansu Çamlıbel from T24, Kuşoğlu responded to the question of whether he and Kılıçdaroğlu are acting together with the following words:

"I am a colleague of Mr. Kemal from the Ministry of Finance, and I also served as his deputy at the Social Security Institution. Of course, we were together in politics later on. We have been together for years. I cannot say that we carried out a very good team effort politically or that we were together on every issue. Mr. Kemal's political teams were sometimes different. We certainly had times when we thought differently. Regarding your question of whether we are acting together, I can say this: we have not had a movement for a long time. There is a court decision that came about independently of us. We did not file the lawsuit. There is a court decision that emerged after a process where Mr. Kemal did not go to court despite being summoned. Now, it will emerge again as a political movement. I am, of course, a member of the Party Assembly that returned with that court decision. I don't know how we will proceed from here, but I am a member of the Party Assembly."

PARTY ASSEMBLY DEBATES

Commenting on the assessments that a significant portion of the names in Kılıçdaroğlu's last Party Assembly are close to Özgür Özel and that the Party Assembly (PM) cannot convene for this reason, Kuşoğlu stated that the legal situation must first be clarified.

Kuşoğlu stated, "The meeting cannot be held under these conditions because it is necessary to legally determine who has left and who has been listed as a substitute. Who are the current members? That determination needs to be made. Such work is required. Therefore, such a meeting cannot be held. Of course, the Republican People's Party is an institutional party. This determination must be made within the institution."

He gave the following response to the question of whether this process would take a long time:

"No, it won't take long, but right now, no one is authorized. There is no party administration at the moment other than Mr. Kemal. Even money cannot be paid right now; nothing can be signed. What I am saying is something unrelated to politics."

"TURKEY IS GOING THROUGH A VERY CRITICAL PERIOD"

Evaluating the criticisms among a segment of CHP voters that Kılıçdaroğlu "served the regime," Kuşoğlu argued that Turkey is entering a new global era.

Kuşoğlu said, "We are in a very difficult period; the classic logic of politics is finished. The order and rules established at the end of the Second World War no longer exist. A new order will be formed, new rules will be in question, and no one knows how these will be. Perhaps in the next 10-20 years, most states will disappear. The Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Atatürk, must survive. In other words, we must not disappear; we must be ambitious. This new era also offers great opportunities for Turkey; these must be examined very well."

STRIKING CLAIM REGARDING THE 2023 ELECTIONS

Kuşoğlu also made assessments regarding the results of the 2023 presidential elections. Stating that he believes Kılıçdaroğlu's vote share was over 50 percent, Kuşoğlu alleged that the election results were manipulated in favor of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

As for the question of why these allegations were not openly brought to the agenda during the election period, "We did not say things we could not prove" he replied.

Sharing his views on the 2023 elections, Kuşoğlu spoke as follows:

"The state conducts the elections, meaning civil servants. In the presidential government system, there is only one person in the executive branch regarding high-level officials; the President. That is, 40,000 to 50,000 high-level officials must change within a few days in the event of a possible change of president. I believe there are 1,800 people who must change immediately with the president. When we consider the deputies of these 40,000 to 50,000 people, the provincial organization, and so on, we are talking about several hundred thousand people. Now, if the state is conducting this election during a change of government, it can influence parliamentary elections by 1-2 percent. This exists all over the world, and it is also influenced in our country. Its effect is greater in the presidential election. At the very least, this is a factor. Beyond this, there are many issues such as influencing the relatives of detainees, influencing votes in the southeast, and the counting of votes from citizens who have sought asylum. In other words, it is actually very easy for the state to manipulate 2 percent. Turkey is a country capable of holding elections, but election manipulation is also carried out in Turkey."

"Someone like Kemal Bey reached 48 percent in this country, heading a left-wing party and establishing the Nation Alliance. And three of those five other parties were Islamist parties that broke away from the AKP. For the first time in the history of the Republic, we were able to act together as 6 parties that do not resemble each other. This is an extraordinary event that happened for the first time in the history of the Republic. Do you remember where Kemal Bey's candidacy was announced on March 6, 2023? It was a lamp night (Kandil) at the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi), it was the Night of Bara'at. An Atatürk poster was hanging on the Felicity Party building. Kemal Bey's candidacy was announced in such an environment. This is an incredibly major event in terms of Turkish history and society."

"ÖZGÜR ÖZEL AND KEMAL KILIÇDAROĞLU SHOULD MEET"

Stating that the debates within the CHP do not stem from an ideological or sociological divergence, Kuşoğlu expressed that the problems could be overcome through dialogue.

Kuşoğlu said, "Özgür Bey and Kemal Bey need to sit down and talk."

ASSESSMENT OF İMAMOĞLU

Kuşoğlu also touched upon the criticisms regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently facing legal challenges. Evaluating Kılıçdaroğlu's occasional calls for "purification," Kuşoğlu stated the following:

"The Ekrem Bey issue is a political matter, beyond being a legal one. What we can do as a party regarding that matter is to stand by Ekrem Bey. There is nothing else beyond that. We must protect the rights of every CHP member, but we do not do this solely through Ekrem Bey."

Evaluating the relationship Özgür Özel has established with society, especially after March 19, Kuşoğlu said he views the leadership during this period positively.

When asked whether he appreciates Özel's performance, Kuşoğlu replied, "Of course I appreciate it. I am pleased. I am pleased that there is a leadership in place right now."

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS REACHED A DIFFERENT POINT"

Arguing that the current government has undergone a transformation since its inception, Kuşoğlu claimed that the state has assumed a role that brings together different political currents.

Kuşoğlu said, "During the First World War, in the final period of the Ottoman Empire, there were three main forms of politics: Islamism, Westernism, and nationalism. There were other political lines, but these were the mainstream. The state wisdom of that time, the Committee of Union and Progress, combined these, engaged in a struggle, and then the Republic of Turkey emerged. I see a similar situation now. I do not think the current government is the same political Islamist government it was when it first came to power; it has differentiated, it has become very different. I am not saying it has moved away from Islamism, but it has changed. It has nationalism, state nationalism, and Westernism on it. In other words, just as the Committee of Union and Progress blended and combined those three currents to govern... there is a situation where Tayyip Erdoğan seems to have combined these three currents as well. But is Tayyip Erdoğan doing this himself, or is it the state wisdom?"

"PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR THE POST-ERDOĞAN ERA"

Arguing that the Presidential Government System is largely built upon Erdoğan, Kuşoğlu claimed that preparations for the future are underway.

Kuşoğlu stated, "Preparations are being made for the post-Erdoğan era. Because this presidential government system is built solely on Erdoğan. It is impossible for anyone other than him to carry this regime, this system forward. Therefore, chaos and confusion await Turkey after Erdoğan. That is why the state mind, the bureaucratic mind, seems to be trying to do something in its own way."

ASSESSMENT REGARDING KILIÇDAROĞLU'S NAME

Speaking about Atakan Sönmez becoming Kılıçdaroğlu's press advisor, Kuşoğlu said that such processes should be conducted in an institutional manner.

Kuşoğlu said, "Mr. Kemal is not in a position to hire or direct a press advisor. These are institutional matters. Mr. Kemal now lives for his wife and children. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's name must, of course, be managed well institutionally."

Finally, Kuşoğlu assessed, "The process should have been managed better; I often remain silent because I believe there was no good communication strategy."