Major backlash against Kılıçdaroğlu in his hometown
Following a controversial court ruling in the CHP, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has returned to the leadership seat; however, citizens in his hometown of Tunceli have criticized the process being determined by the judiciary, emphasizing that members and delegates should decide the party's future.
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The re-election of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as chairman following the "absolute nullity" lawsuit in the Republican People's Party (CHP) has sparked various reactions in Tunceli. Citizens interviewed in the city center and districts stated that they are against democratic processes being shaped by court rulings. Many Tunceli residents emphasized the necessity of resolving internal party issues through the will of the grassroots.
A Tunceli resident expressed his discomfort with the issue, saying, "A party's chairman is not determined by a court ruling. It should be whatever the delegates say. This situation harms both the CHP and democracy."
In interviews conducted in the city, citizens from different age and professional groups argued that party crises should be resolved by the decisions of CHP members and delegates rather than judicial authorities. A citizen named Cem Tekin stated that trust in political and judicial institutions in society has been severely shaken, assessing, "People in Turkey are already having serious problems with trusting justice and politics. Now, even the internal affairs of parties are being debated through the judiciary."
The young voter base also criticized the events within the party, pointing out that the expectation for a change in leadership has been hindered by the court ruling. Dersim University student Arzu Dabak spoke as follows: "There has been an expectation of change in the CHP base for a long time. Every move made by ignoring this expectation takes the party further backward. Courts should not replace politics. Whatever the will of the people is, it should be accepted."
Another agenda item in the city is the deepening cost-of-living crisis. Citizens are uncomfortable with political infighting overshadowing the society's real issues. Retired citizen Hıdır Taş stated that the CHP's priority should be the economic problems of the people rather than internal legal processes, saying, "People are struggling to make ends meet. They cannot go to the market, they cannot pay the rent. What the CHP should be discussing is not court rulings, but the problems of the people."