He had said 'Baykal wanted it in 2009': CHP responds to Melih Gökçek's candidacy claim

A response has come from the CHP regarding Melih Gökçek's recent statements on a YouTube program, where he said, “Deniz Baykal wanted to make me the mayor from the CHP in 2009. His intermediary was Mehmet Sevigen. At least two or three times, he said to my face, 'Melih, you are a very good, successful mayor. Don't pay attention to what people on the right or left say.' That is the kind of person he is. I like Baykal, and he liked me.”

Former CHP Group Deputy Chairman Levent Gök stated on his social media account that the claims do not reflect the truth, noting, “Melih Gökçek has told a lie that Deniz Baykal offered him a candidacy. Not only did we not hear of such an offer, but his son, Ataç Baykal, whom I spoke with, also stated that no such situation occurred. This thing Gökçek did to get attention is very disrespectful,” he said.

Another statement came from former CHP MP Mehmet Sevigen. Speaking to ANKA, Sevigen said that there was a chance encounter with Melih Gökçek at the airport and that the matter was merely a casual conversation, not containing any official offer. Sevigen said, “It was a snapshot moment. It is not an event to be blown out of proportion, but it has been.”

Evaluating the conditions of the time, Mehmet Sevigen also recalled that there were reports in the press about Melih Gökçek being ostracized from his party or that he would not be nominated, and that Deniz Baykal had consoled him by saying, “My son, why are you upsetting yourself? If you don't get the nomination, you can come and be our candidate.” Stating, “If it were a serious offer, we would have either gone to his office or he would have been invited to the headquarters. It is true that the event took place, but there was nothing official about its content,” Sevigen noted that official offers were made to Sinan Aygün and Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu during the same period.