Özgür Özel re-elected as CHP Chairman: First names to join Özel's key list revealed

The Republican People's Party (CHP) held its 21st Extraordinary Congress in Ankara, having decided to convene extraordinarily against the possibility of a trustee being appointed to the party. Current Chairman Özgür Özel, who entered the congress as the sole candidate, was re-elected to the chairmanship after receiving the vote of confidence from the delegates.

At the congress, 1276 out of 1323 delegates cast their votes. While 105 votes were declared invalid, 1171 votes were accepted as valid. CHP leader Özgür Özel took the seat of Chairman for the second time by receiving all of the valid votes. Now, all eyes have turned to the elections for the 60-member Party Assembly (PM) and the High Disciplinary Board.

CRITICAL RACE FOR THE PARTY ASSEMBLY

The real competition at the congress is expected to take place in the Party Assembly election. Delegates will vote for the PM and the High Disciplinary Board using the open list method. According to CHP insiders, there will be intense competition in this election between the key list prepared by Özgür Özel and the list to be formed by Istanbul Deputy Oğuz Kaan Salıcı.

KEY LIST BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

According to a social media post by diplomatic correspondent Hilal Köylü, some of the names that will be on Özel's key list have begun to become clear. It was learned that Engin Özkoç, Mahmut Tanal, Bahadır Erdem, and Sezgin Tanrıkulu are on the list.

One of the notable moments of the congress occurred during Özgür Özel's opening speech. Özel announced that Berkay Gezgin, known for the slogan "Everything will be very beautiful" and currently in detention, has been included in the Party Assembly list.

Gezgin had come to public attention as the creator of the iconic slogan used in Ekrem İmamoğlu's campaign during the 2019 local elections.

The congress process in the CHP will be completed with the shaping of the Party Assembly structure following the chairmanship election.