Group Presidency crisis grows: Call for a party congress for Kılıçdaroğlu in the 'Butlan' CHP

Following the departure of deputies led by Özgür Özel from the CHP to form the YENİ Party, a new topic of debate has emerged within the CHP with the election for the TBMM Group Presidency. After the election held during a closed group meeting, the tension between those referred to as the "third way" within the party and the Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu administration became more visible.

A simple majority could not be reached in the first two rounds of the election for the CHP Group Presidency. It was stated that Elazığ Deputy Gürsel Erol received the majority of the votes in these rounds, but after he withdrew from the election in the third round, Faik Öztrak was elected Group President.

CRITICISM OF MONOPOLIZATION FROM EROL

Making a statement on his social media account after the election, Gürsel Erol argued that there is a "monopolization" within the party. While thanking the deputies who supported him, Erol emphasized that the CHP is "a party not of those who pledge allegiance, but of those who produce ideas, can object, and can speak on behalf of the people."

In his statement, Erol used the expression, "Unfortunately, it is known to everyone that there has been a monopolization in intra-party politics in recent times." Stating that the will of no chairman or political focus should take precedence over the preference of the deputies, Erol said that the strength of the CHP is its "free will, pluralistic structure, and democratic tradition."

CALL FOR A PARTY CONGRESS FROM ÖZTUNÇ

Kahramanmaraş Deputy Ali Öztunç also joined the debate within the party. According to what journalist Barış Terkoğlu reported on the Onlar TV broadcast, Öztunç reacted to the Kılıçdaroğlu administration and expressed that the party should be taken to a party congress as soon as possible.

Öztunç said, "Our goal is to take the party to a congress. We want a congress as soon as possible. This congress will be the congress where the CHP stands up again."

Stating that "The CHP is no one's private property," Öztunç sent a message that the opposition within the party would be more visible. Öztunç used the expressions, "We stayed in the party so that a lock would not be put on the door of the CHP. But some see this party as their private property. From now on, they will see that there is an opposition within the party."

The recent outbursts in the CHP show that the debate, which started with the Group Presidency election, is not limited to the division of duties in the parliamentary group; it signals a new process regarding party management, the demand for a party congress, and internal opposition.