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First major development at the CHP Congress! İlhan Cihaner withdraws his candidacy

The 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP has begun at the Ankara Sports Hall. The first major development at the congress was the announcement by İlhan Cihaner, a 26th-term CHP deputy and candidate for party chairman, that he is withdrawing from the race.

12punto

The 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP has begun at the Ankara Sports Hall. The first development at the congress, which 12punto is following live, came from İlhan Cihaner. Cihaner announced his withdrawal from the candidacy along with criticisms he shared on his social media account.

"THE SUPPORT OF OUR DELEGATES HAS BEEN CAST INTO DOUBT"

Cihaner's statement is as follows:

"To the public, the delegates of the 38th Congress, and the esteemed members of the CHP;

Our 38th Congress, where the party's past should have been accounted for, the path to the future and to power should have been debated, and our political direction should have been determined, has unfortunately been condemned to an impasse where those who brought the party to this point have split in two, stifling progressive transformation and reconstruction. An ugly environment has been created where municipal resources are pitted against each other instead of debating political approaches and determining competent staff. On the other hand, through intense media manipulation, a perception of power has been created, turning the congress process into a 'politics-free' psychological war where only two people are competing. Signature announcements reminiscent of 'Fatherland Front' (Vatan Cephesi) participations have been turned into pressure, preventing the democratic representation of other candidates. So much so that rumors were spread that 'signature support would be given to other candidates,' casting doubt on the support of the delegates who stood by us."

WE REFUSE TO BE A PART OF THIS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC, POLITICS-FREE, AND PERSONALIZED RACE!

We offer our respect and gratitude to all our comrades who gave us their signatures and support. Our path is long and arduous. We keep our hope alive that our Congress Delegates, most of whom come from great struggles, will choose the right path despite all these anti-democratic conditions.

Long live the Republican People's Party, Long live the Republic! We for the Future"