'Pull-the-pin bomb' outburst in CHP! Engin Altay's remarks on Kılıçdaroğlu: 'The reaction is much greater than anticipated'

As the repercussions of the "absolute nullity" ruling by the appellate court and the subsequent police intervention at the Headquarters continue within the Republican People's Party (CHP), striking statements have come from former CHP Group Deputy Chairman Engin Altay.

Speaking to journalist Murat Yetkin, Engin Altay explained why he would not take part in the new administration to be formed by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Altay announced that he, along with Gürsel Erol and Ali Öztunç, refused to serve in the MYK.

"THE ABSOLUTE NULLITY RULING HAS TURNED INTO A PULL-THE-PIN BOMB THROWN INTO THE CHP"

In his statement, Engin Altay used the expressions, "The absolute nullity ruling has turned into a pull-the-pin bomb thrown into the Republican People's Party."

Stating that they held a meeting with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as members of parliament one day before the ruling, Altay said that the issue of police intervention did not come up during the meeting.

Altay said, "We had met with Mr. Kemal as members of parliament one day before; the issue of police intervention was not brought up; if it had been, I would have opposed it."

"ENTERING THE PARTY WITH THE HELP OF THE POLICE WAS WRONG"

Stating that he took a stance along with Gürsel Erol and Ali Öztunç after the police blockade began, Altay said, "We said that the party could not be entered with the help of the Ankara Police, and that doing so would be wrong."

Altay stated that Gürsel Erol and Ali Öztunç informed him by phone that they would not serve in the MYK in their capacity as Party Assembly members, and that he made his own statement via his social media account.

"THE REACTION TOWARD MR. KEMAL IS MUCH GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED"

Engin Altay also made assessments regarding the public reaction toward Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Altay said, "The reaction toward Mr. Kemal is much greater than anticipated."

Expressing that the CHP has suffered heavy damage following the process, Altay said, "But despite everything, there is a funeral in the middle. Mr. Özel and Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu should come together and remove this funeral, and they must."

"THE PARTY HAS SUFFERED VERY HEAVY DAMAGE"

Comparing the process to a traffic accident, Altay said, "Our party has suffered very heavy damage in this process. If we think of this as a traffic accident, the duty of all of us, especially the duty of both of them, is to ensure the vehicle is not totaled and to repair the damage."

"THE PROBLEM HAS BOTH POLITICAL AND LEGAL DIMENSIONS"

Responding to the assessment that the absolute nullity ruling disregards the decisions made by the CHP over the last three years, Altay said, "Of course. The problem has both political and legal dimensions."

Continuing his statement, Altay said, "But now is the time to just be a Republican People's Party member. No one can be more saddened by what is happening in the Party than I am; we are all very saddened."

"IT IS OUR DUTY TO REPEL THE TRAPS OF DIVISION"

Giving a message of unity against attempts to divide the CHP, Engin Altay said, "The duty of all CHP members is to repel the traps and dreams of division set against the party."