All eyes on the CHP charter congress: Which topics are coming to the fore?

The countdown has begun for the Republican People's Party (CHP) charter amendment congress, which will be held between September 4-9. According to a report by BirGün, CHP officials noted that nearly 10,000 suggestions have been received from party organizations regarding the requested changes to the charter. Three proposals have come to the fore: primary elections, membership, and term limits.

Preparing to convene the Central Executive Board (MYK) during the week of August 5 with the charter on the agenda, the CHP leadership stated that they want to implement a sound primary election system into the charter. It was stated that the priority will be a “regulated primary election.”

THE PROBLEM OF UNREGULATED PRIMARIES

Reminding that the current charter allows for primary elections, CHP officials said, however, that primaries held without rules create problems. Emphasizing that candidates can engage in "member stacking" before primaries, the officials said, “We will evaluate what can be done and what rules can be set against problems such as voting in primaries based on regional ties in some places, or the influence of mayors over members in others.”

CHP officials provided information regarding the suggestions received within the scope of the charter congress process, which will begin in Sivas on September 4, the anniversary of the Sivas Congress, which is accepted as the party's founding date. The party leadership stated that “the demands of the organization are being listened to more than the thoughts of the administrators,” adding, “We have received the suggestions from our members. The most frequent suggestions are coming in regarding primary elections, party membership, and term limits.”

THE INFLUENCE OF MAYORS

According to information obtained from CHP sources, a participatory candidate selection process will be conducted for both parliamentary and mayoral positions following the charter amendment. The goal of making the candidate selection process as democratic as possible will be made permanent within the framework of rules limited by the charter. In this context, member stacking before primaries will be prevented. The influence of mayors over members will be reduced. A “minimum membership duration” requirement will be sought to vote in primary elections.

TERM LIMITS

With the charter amendment, the Party Assembly, one of the party's highest bodies, will be given a more effective role in the method of determining the presidential candidate. A three-term limit will be implemented for parliamentary and mayoral positions. The interval for the congress, which is held every two years in the CHP, will be extended to three years.

The proposal among the suggestions for charter amendment that requested an increase in the number of Party Assembly members will not be taken into consideration on the grounds that it “complicates decision-making processes.” According to the information obtained, the suggestions for the charter amendment will be evaluated at the provincial chairs meeting to be held on Monday, August 5, and at the Party Assembly meeting to be held on August 7. Following these, the proposals will be submitted to the charter commission.