CHP's 'Extraordinary Congress' convenes today with the slogan 'The will belongs to the nation': Shadow Cabinet and list details

The Republican People's Party (CHP) will hold its Extraordinary Congress in Ankara on Sunday, April 6, in line with a decision taken to prevent the appointment of a trustee to the party.

In the congress where Chairman Özgür Özel is a candidate for re-election, Antalya Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal and former deputy Berhan Şimşek have also announced their candidacy.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had announced that they would go to an extraordinary congress on April 6 to "prevent the appointment of a trustee" by rendering the investigation launched into allegations that "votes were cast in exchange for money" at the 38th Ordinary Congress held on November 4-5, 2023, "moot."

THE WILL BELONGS TO THE NATION

The slogan of the congress, which will be held at the Nazım Hikmet Culture Center in Yenimahalle, Ankara, has been determined as "the will belongs to the nation" in reaction to "trustee" practices.

Although the congress is open to party members, a limited number of members will be able to enter the hall due to its small size. Side halls have been allocated for the press and guests.

The congress will be held in a hall with a capacity of approximately 1,600 people, and only delegates, former chairmen, and guests of honor will be able to enter.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel will turn the congress into a rally and will address party members at 16:00 in the park next to the congress hall.

Signatures will be collected at the congress with a call for the release of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been removed from his post as Mayor of Istanbul.

KILIÇDAROĞLU'S ATTENDANCE EXPECTED

Former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who announced that he would not be a candidate at the extraordinary congress but could evaluate it if he received an invitation to attend, is expected to participate in the congress.

Kılıçdaroğlu had handed over the chairmanship to Özgür Özel in November 2023.

CHP leader Özgür Özel invited his predecessors Kılıçdaroğlu, Altan Öymen, Hikmet Çetin, and Murat Karayalçın, who served as Chairman of the Social Democratic Populist Party, to the congress on Friday.

All of the former chairmen are expected to attend the congress.

BERHAN ŞİMŞEK AND ÜMİT UYSAL ANNOUNCED THEIR CANDIDACIES

Following Kılıçdaroğlu's announcement that he would not be a candidate, Özel was expected to be the sole candidate for the chairmanship.

However, Antalya Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal and former Istanbul deputy Berhan Şimşek also announced that they would be candidates.

For Uysal and Şimşek to officially become candidates, they must be nominated for the chairmanship by the votes of at least 5 percent of the delegates.

It is commented that the congress, which takes place during a process where operations against CHP municipalities, the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the possibility of a trustee being appointed to the party are being discussed, will consolidate the CHP delegates and that Özel will emerge from the congress even stronger.

OPPOSITION LIST FROM OĞUZ KAAN SALICI

The main competition at the congress is expected to be for the Party Assembly (PM).

The CHP administration decided that the PM election would be held with an "open list" (çarşaf liste), where party members meeting the necessary conditions can be candidates and delegates can choose among them.

However, it is considered certain that CHP leader Özel will also issue a "key list" containing the names he wants to see in the PM.

Although not official, the "key list" can be described as a "guide" for delegates regarding whom to choose from the open list.

Due to the success in the March 31 local elections, Özel is not expected to make very extensive changes to the PM. However, it is stated that he may include some experienced politicians and deputies in the party administration.

Some CHP insiders state that Özel may issue a list that will allow for the representation of different wings within the party.

The intra-party opposition, which did not field a candidate for chairman, is also making its calculations through the PM.

A group of deputies plans to field a joint list against the headquarters or to break Özel's list with individual candidates.

Istanbul deputy Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, who fielded an alternative list against Özel at the 38th Ordinary Congress, will field an opposition list under the name of "balance and solidarity."

İMAMOĞLU ADJUSTMENT TO THE SHADOW CABINET

Following the congress, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel will determine the Central Executive Board (MYK) from within the new PM.

After the 38th Ordinary Congress where he was elected chairman, Özel had gone through a new restructuring in the party administration and announced an 18-person "shadow cabinet" from among the MYK members, whose number was increased to 24.

6 of the MYK members are responsible for party operations.

It is stated that after the extraordinary congress, the practice of determining the shadow cabinet from within the MYK may be abandoned and it may be transformed into a structure that will play an active role in the presidential candidate's work.

İmamoğlu, whom the party has declared as its presidential candidate, had also announced that they would establish presidential working offices in Ankara and Istanbul.

It is being discussed in party circles that the shadow cabinet will be shaped in line with İmamoğlu's preference and structured to play a role in the election campaign.

News Source: 12punto