'Third way' advocates preparing a declaration: Potential CHP leadership candidates leaked from the lobbies!

Following the departure of Özgür Özel and his team to form the New Party, internal mobility within the CHP continues. It is reported that among the 44 deputies remaining in the party, a group that defines themselves as "neither pro-Özgür nor pro-Kemal" and is referred to in the lobbies as the "third way" is preparing a joint declaration for a call to an ordinary congress.

The deputies, whose number is stated to be approximately 15, are expected to come together in the coming days to make their final assessments, and the prepared declaration is expected to be shared with the public next week.

According to a report by Ayşe Sayın from the BBC, it is being discussed in the lobbies that names including Elazığ Deputy Gürsel Erol, Kahramanmaraş Deputy Ali Öztunç, and Istanbul Deputy Engin Altay are working on the declaration. The declaration will demand that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu take the party to an ordinary congress as soon as possible and announce that he will not be a candidate for party leader.

CONGRESS DEMAND COMES TO THE FORE

Deputies close to the group explain their reasons for staying in the party as protecting the legal existence of the CHP. Reacting to allegations that Kılıçdaroğlu interfered with the parliamentary group presidency election, one deputy commented, "From the very beginning, we have been saying 'a congress as soon as possible.' We are saying, 'If an extraordinary one is not happening, accelerate the ordinary congress calendar.' But we see that there is a reluctance regarding the congress."

DISSIDENTS POINT TO JANUARY FOR THE CONGRESS

The same circles argue that the CHP has the institutional capacity to hold a congress in a short time. For this reason, it is emphasized that the congress should be held by January at the latest. Some deputies referred to as the "third way" state that if the declaration does not yield results, they will make the intra-party opposition more visible.

On the other hand, sources close to the CHP Headquarters state that the congress will be held, but that Kılıçdaroğlu should not be expected to announce that he will not be a candidate again at this stage. Names close to Kılıçdaroğlu are of the opinion that such an announcement would weaken the party administration and start the leadership race prematurely.

RESIGNATIONS ON THE AGENDA IF CONGRESS CALL REMAINS UNANSWERED

Some deputies state that if their calls for a congress remain unanswered, they could leave the CHP and move to the independent benches, while some could turn their route toward the New Party.

One of the deputies stated that Özgür Özel has adopted a "careful" tone in his statements toward them and has given messages that "their doors are open," adding, "At this stage, we are not talking about where we will go."

The same person said, "Our priority is to ensure the congress is convened. However, if all paths are exhausted for this, resignations may become inevitable. The New Party also does not have a negative approach toward us."

Meanwhile, in New Party lobbies, claims are being voiced that some CHP deputies might leave their party and join the ranks of the New Party without waiting for the congress process.

WHOSE NAMES ARE MENTIONED FOR CANDIDACY?

It is stated that different names are also being discussed for the party leadership during the congress process. In party lobbies, in addition to Gürsel Erol, the names of Muharrem İnce, Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, Engin Altay, and, if Kılıçdaroğlu does not run, party spokesperson Müslim Sarı are being mentioned. However, none of these names have made an official candidacy announcement.

NO EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED FOR CANDIDACY

Sources close to the CHP Headquarters state that the congress will be held, while conveying that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is not expected to announce that he will not be a candidate again at this stage.

Names close to Kılıçdaroğlu assess that the party leader making a clear statement about his candidacy now could weaken the hand of the party administration.

According to the same sources, the view that such a move would bring the leadership race to the agenda earlier than planned and accelerate the process within the party comes to the fore.

GROUP ELECTION MADE THE DIVISION VISIBLE

The division within the CHP also came to the agenda during the TBMM Group Presidency election held last week. Elazığ Deputy Gürsel Erol ran against Tekirdağ Deputy Faik Öztrak, who was supported by Kılıçdaroğlu, and Erol received 19 votes while Öztrak received 18 in the first round.

It was reported that Erol withdrew from the candidacy in the third round following allegations that Kılıçdaroğlu interfered in the election during the second round. Later, making a statement on his social media account, Erol criticized the "monopolization" within the party; he argued that the CHP's march back to power would be possible not with a "culture of allegiance," but with "cadres that uphold the will of the organization."