CHP officials issue statement on by-elections

Evaluating the detention operations that extended to CHP-run municipalities in Adana, Antalya, and Adıyaman following those in Istanbul, senior CHP figures sent a message of determination, stating: "There will be no end to these operations; we will not remain silent about the attack on our elected officials, we will not take a step back, and we will not lower our tone."

Following the detention of Zeydan Karalar, Muhittin Böcek, Abdurrahman Tutdere, and Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Ahmet Şahin, the CHP Central Executive Board (MYK) held an extraordinary meeting yesterday. In line with the decision taken, the Party Assembly (PM) will hold an extraordinary meeting today at 16:00.

Tomorrow morning at 11:00, a meeting of provincial chairs will be held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chairman Ensar Aytekin. Afterward, a closed group meeting with members of parliament will be organized at 16:00 under the leadership of Chairman Özgür Özel. Following these meetings, the MYK is expected to reconvene to discuss the process.

"IS THERE ANOTHER OPTION?"

CHP sources commented on the developments: "There will be no end to these operations; we will not remain silent about the attack on our elected officials, we will not take a step back, and we will not lower our tone. Are we calling an armed group to the streets? We are calling our voters to the streets to exercise their democratic rights. Is there another option? We are seeking our democratic rights in the squares together with our people."

"RALLIES WILL CONTINUE"

The "Standing Up for the National Will" rally, organized by the CHP to support the imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, will be held in Sancaktepe on Wednesday, July 9, at 20:30. Party officials emphasized that the rallies will continue, stating: "Our organization used to mobilize for its own internal competitions. Preparing these rallies for the past year and a half feels like child's play. Everyone knows what to do; everything is running like clockwork. Provincial chairs are competing to host rallies. There are requests for rallies from nearly 40 provinces. The calendar is almost full until the new year. Our organization is not tired. No one is uncomfortable with this; the fact that someone is uncomfortable means we are on the right path."

RESPONSE TO ERDOĞAN'S 'FIRST PARTY' CLAIM: NUMBERS DO NOT LIE

On the other hand, responding to the words of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who said, "There is no such thing as the CHP being the first party. Currently, the first party in Turkey is the AK Party," party members reacted by saying, "A politician should not lie. Numbers do not lie; accepting this is not a sign of weakness."

BY-ELECTION DEBATE ON THE AGENDA

Remarkable comments were also made regarding the possibility of a by-election, which has been frequently discussed in CHP corridors in recent days. Answering the question, "Chairman Özgür Özel said for November 2, 'If you don't put a ballot box, I will,' will that ballot box be placed through a by-election?" sources stated that this issue is being interpreted in different ways.

"There are those who interpret it that way, and others who make different interpretations. Some of us will pay a price, we will be challenged, but these days will pass. This is how it happens in one-man regimes. If the CHP were content with 15-20 percent, why would they conduct operations? Is it opposition? It is. They wouldn't touch us as long as we didn't do anything to threaten this government," said party sources, who also recalled the technical conditions for a by-election.

Accordingly, for a by-election to take place, either all members of parliament in a province must resign or 5 percent of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) must become vacant. Sources stated, "The conditions for a by-election can be created, but the consequences must be discussed. Could it be a trigger for a general election? A by-election where 50 percent of Turkey's population goes to the polls could be effective. Let's say a by-election is held and the CHP gets 50 percent of the vote; this is not a 'by-election' anymore. This would be an election where the will of the voter is revealed."

News Source: 12punto