New development in the party congress tension between Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel: 'Özel has abandoned his insistence'

Following the court's decision of absolute nullity in the CHP, all eyes have turned to the contacts being conducted between Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel.

Journalist Barış Yarkadaş explained the behind-the-scenes details of the meetings held by CHP Elazığ Deputy Gürsel Erol, Istanbul Deputy Engin Altay, and Kahramanmaraş Deputy Ali Öztunç with Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel during a live broadcast on tv100.

According to the information conveyed by Yarkadaş, Özgür Özel asked the three deputies to meet with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and convey his request for the party congress to be held as soon as possible. It was learned that the three deputies decided not to speak to the press following the meetings.

Stating that the deputies gave similar messages to both sides, Yarkadaş said, "The message being conveyed to both Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is that the harsh rhetoric used by those around them must be abandoned. It is believed that everyone, including deputies, party assembly members, and provincial chairs, needs to lower the tension."

'ABANDONED HIS INSISTENCE'

One of the most notable pieces of information provided by Yarkadaş concerned the congress calendar. Claiming that Özgür Özel has changed his previously stated demand for a "congress within 45 days," Yarkadaş said, "When it became clear that this was not legally possible, Özgür Özel told the deputies that the congress could be held in September or October. This is a new development. Because previously, there was insistence on the 45-day period," he stated.

'A COOLING-OFF PERIOD IS NEEDED'

Stating that contacts between the parties are continuing, Yarkadaş said that the tension within the CHP remains very high. Yarkadaş said, "The deputies are meeting with both Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel. Both sides are explaining their own grievances. The assessment made is this: a cooling-off period is needed. Everyone is speaking at the highest pitch, and neither side is leaning toward a solution. For this reason, it is thought that a softening process is necessary," he said.

Stating that the three deputies believe a door for dialogue has been opened between the parties, Yarkadaş said that a new delegation or a different mechanism could be activated in the coming process.

'SIGN OF SOFTENING BETWEEN THE PARTIES'

Expressing that a sign of softening has been seen between the parties for the first time, Yarkadaş said, "The deputies believe that a negotiation process, even if indirect, has begun between the parties. The goal is to create a ground for consensus and to extract the party from the vortex it is in," he said.

WHAT DID KILIÇDAROĞLU SAY?

According to what Yarkadaş conveyed, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu listened to the deputies who visited him but said that the congress could not be held under current conditions. It was stated that Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that there are legal obstacles to the congress and that the delegate structure has also changed. Yarkadaş said, "21 congress delegates have switched to the AK Party, approximately 45 delegates are under arrest, and 5 delegates have resigned. Therefore, the current delegate structure has changed," he said.

News Source: 12punto