Kılıçdaroğlu signals potential candidacy

Former CHP Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu made notable remarks during a television appearance. When asked about running for party leadership again, he stated, "It depends on the delegates. If they propose it, we wouldn't say no." He also clarified his previous "stabbed in the back" comments.

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Kılıçdaroğlu signals potential candidacy

Former Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made statements that are set to create a stir during an appearance on a private television channel.

Claiming he was forced to become a presidential candidate, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "What would you say if the friends you set out with, struggled with, and fought alongside—who insisted that you must be the presidential candidate—later turned around and did the exact opposite to you?"

Maintaining that running for office never even crossed his mind, the former CHP leader stated, "I don't say I was stabbed in the back for no reason."

Evaluating the party's convention process and the elections, here are the highlights from Kılıçdaroğlu's remarks:

"THEY INSISTED THAT I BECOME THE CANDIDATE"

Describing the pressure he faced during the presidential candidacy process, Kılıçdaroğlu used the following expressions:

"What would you say if the friends you set out with, struggled with, and fought alongside—who insisted that you must be the presidential candidate—later turned around and did the exact opposite to you? I leave this to the judgment of the citizens."

"BECOMING A CANDIDATE NEVER EVEN CROSSED MY MIND"

It was as if I had insisted on being the presidential candidate, when it hadn't even crossed my mind. In the Central Executive Board (MYK), the Party Assembly, and the parliamentary group, it was said that I absolutely had to be the candidate; this was repeated at every meeting. Weren't you the one telling me to be a candidate until yesterday? Since I have never come from a culture of imposition throughout my life, I have never done such a thing."

'IF THE DELEGATES PROPOSE IT, WE WON'T SAY WE WON'T BE CANDIDATES'

To be a chairman, you must be a fighter; obstacles will appear before you, and you will overcome them. That is how it should be to become chairman. I never said I would be chairman at the party congress. The delegates nominated me. If they nominate me as a candidate for chairman at the congress again, we will say, 'Let the bravest step forward.' It depends on the delegates. If they propose it, we won't say we won't do it.

News Source: 12punto