Breaking News: Önder Sav resigns from CHP

The wave of resignations continues following the absolute nullity crisis within the CHP and the establishment of the NEW Party.

Most recently, Önder Sav, one of the CHP's heavyweights, announced that he has resigned from the party he has been a part of for 70 years.

In his statement during a press conference at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), Sav said, "The participation of extras procured for the membership ceremony in Istanbul was ensured. The CHP is not a party that can live with such a disgrace. The CHP has moved away from its founding philosophy."

Criticizing the absolute nullity management in his statement and adding that the CHP has drifted away from its founding philosophy, Sav said, "The tenants who are unfairly using the building and the party emblem will, of course, vacate that building in a suitable and near future."

Sav, who resigned from the party along with his family, noted the following in his statement:

"In the period we have left behind, very rapid developments and changes have taken place in the CHP. I would like to share my thoughts on this matter with you. The absolute nullity decision rendered on May 20, 2026, has unfortunately thoroughly confused the CHP, of which we are members. We are living through a period where lawlessness prevails. In the CHP, of which I am a member, 27 members of the Party Assembly, which was left with 57 members, resigned on June 11. With this resignation, 30 members remained. In accordance with Article 24/3 of the CHP Charter, since the number of members has fallen below two-thirds, that is, below the number 38, the Party Assembly and the Central Executive Board elected from within it have legally fallen. Despite the mandatory provision of the Charter, this rule was not followed, even though a party congress call should have been made to re-elect the Party Assembly. More importantly, despite the petitions submitted for the convening of the congress with the signatures of a sufficient number of delegates, no congress call was made. The reason given is that the preliminary injunction decision prevents this.

"AN ORGANIZATIONAL PURGE UNPRECEDENTED IN CHP HISTORY IS TAKING PLACE"

However, 32 of our country's esteemed constitutional law experts have stated that the absolute nullity decision was rendered by an unauthorized court in violation of the rule of law. The absolute nullity decision is in the nature of an intervention in the internal affairs of a political party; it has damaged intra-party democracy and the preferences of party members in a way that is difficult to repair. Based on such a decision, the expulsion of deputies, provincial and district chairs can be requested by the decisions of the Party Assembly and Central Executive Board, which no longer have the authority; provincial and district chairs and their administrations are being removed from their duties without any legally valid justification. A period of lawlessness and organizational purge unprecedented in the history of the Republican People's Party is being experienced. This situation has created great outrage among biased and unbiased voters, citizens, and CHP members. Hundreds of thousands of resignations have taken place in the CHP in a short time, and it is understood that the resignations are continuing to increase.

"THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN 'PURIFICATION' RHETORIC ARE UNAWARE THAT THEY ARE ROTTING THE PARTY"

The party's current administrators have reached a point where they cannot go out among the public and are not accepted at funerals. The effort to ensure crowds with drums and pipes, using criers (heralds) just like in the Ottoman Empire era, even for collusive shopkeeper visits, shows the painful picture they have fallen into. What is even more saddening is the use of paid extras for new member registrations. Those who engage in 'purification' rhetoric are unaware that they are polluting and rotting the historic party. In summary, the CHP is rapidly moving away from its founding philosophy, Atatürk's principles and revolutions, the characteristics of a democratic, secular state of law, and the belief in 'Rights, Law, Justice' which now remains only in rhetoric. True CHP members must act as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said at the 3rd Congress in 1931: 'It is extremely wrong to tolerate any mistake made in the party; the harm is greater than the benefit.' This instruction is valid for every CHP member today as well.

RESIGNED ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY

Let's sit straight and talk straight. The party under the management of today's administrators is not the CHP that was founded 103 years ago as the continuation of the Association for the Defense of the Rights of Anatolia and Rumelia and the National Forces (Kuvâ-yı Milliye) under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Unfortunately, it is a party whose genes have been tampered with and which has been transformed. The tenants who are unfairly using the building and the party emblem will, of course, vacate that building in a suitable and near future. I would also like to state that I agree with the reasons for resignation announced to the public by our 281 esteemed friends who served as senators and deputies in past periods and resigned from the party a few days ago. For the reasons I have explained; together with my wife Çiğdem Sav, my two children, and my son-in-law, I am resigning from my membership in the Republican People's Party with deep sadness and indescribable pain. With the hope of meeting again in the true CHP that owns the regime and revolutions described and founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and which is committed to the rule of law and the principles of a democratic and secular state of law..."

Önder Sav also shared that former CHP Deputy and Minister of Public Works and Transport Erol Çevikçe has also resigned. He stated that Çevikçe could not attend the press conference due to health issues.

News Source: 12punto