Another blow to Kılıçdaroğlu
Leadership debates within the CHP have led to two separate delegations facing off during holiday greeting visits. While Özgür Özel's delegation received more attention from political parties, the de facto split was once again laid bare.
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The dual-headed structure that emerged in the CHP following the "absolute nullity" decision also manifested during the holiday greeting visits. While the team of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the position of CHP Chairman by the court, received visitors at the party headquarters, the delegation of Özgür Özel, who still retains the title of elected chairman according to the party bylaws, exchanged holiday greetings with parties at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Developments following the critical court decision on May 21 have deepened the polarization within the party, with the Kılıçdaroğlu administration submitting two separate petitions to the Ankara Governor's Office demanding the evacuation of the headquarters building. As tensions within the party escalated during this process, marked by incidents such as police intervention and doors being broken down, the holiday greeting programs created a competitive environment between the two teams claiming leadership.
During this year's holiday greetings in the CHP, the AK Party delegation visited the CHP Headquarters for the first time in a long while and met with Kılıçdaroğlu and his team. The MHP and the Vatan Party also recognized only Kılıçdaroğlu's delegation as the main interlocutor of the CHP. However, many other parties chose to exchange holiday greetings with representatives from both teams. The most notable distinction was that the IYI Party, Zafer Party, Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), Labour Party (EMEP), Left Party, and Independent Turkey Party (BTP) met only with Özgür Özel's delegation.
The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), citing the ongoing "absolute nullity" debates, announced that it had decided not to visit either side during this year's holiday greetings.
Özgür Özel's team garnered more public attention by exchanging holiday greetings with three more parties than Kılıçdaroğlu's wing in terms of political visits. Observers suggest that this competition within the party will be decisive for the future governance of the CHP.