Özgür Özel reacts to decision by Kılıçdaroğlu's MYK

Elected CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted to the decisions taken by the Central Executive Board, which met under the leadership of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, to dismiss certain provincial chairs and initiate disciplinary proceedings. In his statement, Özel declared that the decisions taken were invalid and sent a message of rule of law to the party base.

Özgür Özel stated, "Those who are under a precautionary measure cannot come and dismiss provincial chairs like this. This is not something that can happen. This decision is illegitimate and unlawful. We will not and shall not surrender to a coup within the party," he said.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The crisis in the CHP escalated following the decisions taken at the Central Executive Board meeting held today. Müslim Sarı, spokesperson for the Kılıçdaroğlu-led MYK, announced after the meeting that some current and former provincial chairs had been referred to the disciplinary board. According to the information provided by Sarı, disciplinary proceedings were initiated with precautionary measures against Erzurum Provincial Chair Serhat Can Eş, Bursa Provincial Chair Nihat Yeşiltaş, and Bitlis Provincial Chair Metin Güzelkaya, and the organizations in these provinces were dissolved.

It was also announced that Gaziantep Provincial Chair Vakkas Açar, former Mardin Provincial Chair Mehmet Kılıçarslan, and Özgür Çelik, whose tenure as Istanbul Provincial Chair was terminated by a decision of absolute nullity, were also referred to the disciplinary board. Mahmut Edebali and Turgut Özkan were appointed as new provincial chairs in Erzurum and Bursa, respectively. Information was also shared that Women's Branch Chair Asu Kaya had been dismissed from her post.

Among the names subject to the decision are former Mardin Provincial Chair Mehmet Kılıçarslan and Batman Provincial Chair Hüseyin Yaşar.