First leadership bid before the CHP convention: Aytuğ Atıcı declares candidacy for chairman

The first concrete announcement of candidacy for the chairmanship race has arrived ahead of the CHP convention process. Former Mersin MP Aytuğ Atıcı has announced that he is a candidate for chairman.

Atıcı, who met with CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu before announcing his decision to run, stated that his visit was not intended to "seek permission, approval, or support."

It was reported that during the meeting, Atıcı told Kılıçdaroğlu, "I would not want you to be a candidate because you have become very worn out. You said, 'I will bring the party to a safe harbor'; you were describing me. I am one of the people to whom you can entrust the ship. Many people around you will tell you that you 'must be a candidate,' but if I were in your place, I would not want such a thing."

It was learned that Kılıçdaroğlu responded to Atıcı's decision by saying, "Good luck. Working is good; we need to pull the party together."

With Atıcı's move, the race for the chairmanship in the CHP has officially gained momentum ahead of the convention. It is being assessed in party circles that other names may also announce their candidacies in the coming period.