CHP's 'early election in November' plan revealed! Response to 'by-election' claims

The Republican People's Party (CHP) continues its field work for the release of presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being held in Silivri Prison, and for an early election. Party officials draw attention to the importance of the rallies held in a different province every week and the signature campaign conducted for İmamoğlu's freedom and an early election.

According to the report by Cumhuriyet, officials stating that they will create an organizational structure that will increase field work in mid-May say that they will determine principal and substitute ballot box officials for 191 thousand ballot boxes. These officials will meet face-to-face with voters at the ballot boxes they are responsible for to request signatures and support.

BY-ELECTION DEBATES

CHP leader Özgür Özel's words in journalist Fatih Altaylı's program, "We will try every way to put a ballot box in front of this nation," brought the questions of "Will the CHP ask for a by-election?" to the agenda on social media. However, party officials state that this claim has not been discussed within the party and that their primary goal is to force the government into an election through rallies and signature campaigns.

PARLIAMENTARY DECISION REQUIRED

According to the Parliamentary Election Law, 30 deputies must resign for a by-election to be held. However, even in this case, it is mandatory for the Parliament to make a decision. Since the majority in Parliament is held by the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı), it is not possible for the CHP to make a by-election decision on its own. CHP members say, "Even if we don't talk about it within the party, if we ask for a by-election, it would be to force the AKP and MHP into an election."

ÖZEL'S 'TRAP' WARNING

"By-election" debates had also come to the agenda in the autumn of last year and at the beginning of this year. CHP leader Özel, against the calls of "CHP should return to the people (sine-i millet)" that started on social media after the appointment of a trustee to the Esenyurt Municipality, had said, "Returning to the people does not mean an early election, it means a by-election 90 days later. It is a trap set by the AK Party and the MHP."

The by-election formula had come to the agenda for İmamoğlu in January. Some party members had suggested making İmamoğlu a deputy through a by-election against the possibility of a political ban being imposed on him, and in this way, granting him immunity.