DEM Party's 5th Ordinary Grand Congress begins in Ankara: Will there be a change in leadership?
Party bodies will be elected, the bylaws will be reviewed, and the new political term declaration will be announced at the congress held at the Ankara Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center.
12punto
The DEM Party's 5th Ordinary Grand Congress has begun at the Ankara Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center. It was stated that the congress, which opened at 10:00 AM with the participation of delegates, was organized in accordance with legal requirements.
The party held its last ordinary congress in October 2023. At this congress, the election of party bodies, reviews of the bylaws, and the announcement of the declaration regarding the upcoming political term to the public are expected.
In addition to DEM Party members of parliament, members from provincial and district organizations attended the congress, where participation was kept limited. Due to the framework of the congress, no invitations were sent to other political parties.
Among the participants were Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Pervin Buldan, Şanlıurfa MP Mithat Sancar, who served on the DEM Party's Imralı Delegation, Democratic Regions Party Co-Chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, and DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan.
NO LEADERSHIP CHANGE EXPECTED AT THE CONGRESS
Banners reading "5th Grand Congress," "5. Kongreye Mezin" (5th Grand Congress in Kurdish), and "Jin, Jiyan, Azadi" (Woman, Life, Freedom) were hung in the hall where the congress is being held. DEM Party Co-Chairs Tuncer Bakırhan and Tülay Hatimoğulları entered the hall to applause.
Following the start of the congress, Neslihan Şedal, Ali Kenanoğlu, Şevval Dicle Akay, Burcugül Çubuk, and Mehmet Onur Yılmaz were elected to the Congress Council. After a moment of silence, the co-chairs delivered speeches.
No changes to the party's name, bylaws, or program are expected at the congress. While the re-election of Co-Chairs Bakırhan and Hatimoğulları is considered certain, limited changes are anticipated in the Central Executive Board and the Party Assembly.
It is stated that the DEM Party is planning a more comprehensive change and restructuring congress following this one. That congress is expected to be held in the spring of 2027, in coordination with the implementation of the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration.