New statement from CHP's Mahir Polat on party convention debates: 'Not by favor, but by struggle...'

Reaction from CHP's Polat to CHP Spokesperson Yücel: The fact that he could not make any statement that would satisfy anyone has revealed how justified the criticisms directed by Mr. Salıcı were.

The repercussions continue following CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's statement, "Whoever has the power, let them come forward; let them not demand it from me," which closed the doors to convention expectations within his party.

Following the statement by CHP Istanbul MP Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, in which he expressed to Özel that a convention is a right, not a favor, a harsh statement came from CHP Spokesperson Deniz Yücel, who claimed that the CHP would not remain indifferent to those who pursue personal ambitions and harm the party's corporate identity.

Polat, who had previously reacted to Yücel's statement, criticized the harsh responses given by the CHP administration to convention calls in his social media post today.

In his post on his social media account, Polat emphasized that every CHP member possesses the consciousness of an organization's determination on their own, while stating that it is futile for anyone to present democratic demands as if they were a favor.

The full text of Mahir Polat's social media post, in which he stated that trust in the public and hope for the CHP would only be possible by defending democracy, is as follows:

"Democracy is not built by favor, but by struggle!

The march to power is built with the support received from the people and party members. Democratic demands within the party are not a loss of power, but the embodiment of the culture of consultation that exists in our party's traditions. Actions and rhetoric independent of the organization will eventually be condemned by the conscience of the organization.

The Republican People's Party has struggle and democracy in its genes. Even while the War of Independence was being fought, Mustafa Kemal drew his strength from the parliament and our party. He entrusted his own will to the party and the parliament.

Our party, which is the strongest alternative to the one-man regime created by the AKP today, will certainly come to power. However, beyond practical applications, there should be no ideological drifting.

The most important element that distinguishes us from other parties is that party policies are built from the grassroots to the top with collective wisdom. If policies that the grassroots do not know, do not adopt, and even oppose begin to be implemented, the hope of social opposition will be broken!

That is why different voices give hope to our party and trust to our people. Collective wisdom is built this way as well.

Every CHP member has the consciousness and competence to possess the determination of an organization on their own. No one presenting the fulfillment of democratic demands as a favor benefits our party or our future.

As our party marches toward power, and as it has come so close to being in power, drawing strength from the people and the organization does not move the CHP backward, but rather carries it forward with even more self-confidence.

An environment where different voices are suppressed, lynched, and, as if that were not enough, monotonous authoritarian statements are made, harms the existence of our party not only in the medium and long term, but even in the short term. This mindset is not the party's mindset! It is not the party's conscience at all!

The power that will save us from the AKP is democracy and determination. As long as we do not defend democracy without ifs, buts, or maybes, we cannot be a source of trust for the people or hope for the organization.

Democracy festivals that take place not with hatred but with love, not with fighting but in a festive atmosphere, are our party's debt to the people, its hope, and most importantly, its responsibility."

News Source: 12punto