Istanbul Bar Association President Filiz Saraç reacts to events during the primary election process

Istanbul Bar Association President Filiz Saraç issued a statement regarding developments during the primary election process. Criticizing the election process sharply, Saraç stated, "The results of a primary election that was attempted to be held while I was at a Bar Association Presidents meeting in Ankara, and in which a large portion of the group members did not participate, have no validity."

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Istanbul Bar Association President Filiz Saraç reacts to events during the primary election process

Attorney Filiz Saraç, the first female president in the 146-year history of the Istanbul Bar Association and a candidate for the Istanbul Bar Association presidency from the Önce İlke Çağdaş Avukatlar Grubu (First Principle Contemporary Lawyers Group), has voiced criticisms regarding the group's primary election process.

Saraç stated that the events during the primary election process were inconsistent with the group's principles.

Emphasizing that she ensured the first primary election in the group in 12 years took place in 2022 and that she has been a candidate for all her current positions through primary elections to date, Filiz Saraç noted the following regarding the process in her statement titled "We Will Walk Together into the Future":

"I am sharing with my colleagues that I am a candidate for the Istanbul Bar Association presidency for the new term from the Önce İlke Çağdaş Avukatlar Grubu, of which I am a founder and the currently elected Istanbul Bar Association President.

There have been justified objections from many of our group members regarding the attempt to conduct the process in our group in a way that does not align with our principles. It is impossible for me to accept that members who were not allowed to vote, the majority of whom are our young colleagues, were ignored in this process. I have also informed our general assembly members that a primary election held under these conditions would not be legitimate."

Saraç also stated that the results of a primary election that was attempted to be held while she was at a Bar Association Presidents meeting in Ankara, and in which a large portion of the group members did not participate, have no validity.

Filiz Saraç added, "Our efforts continue for an election that appeals to our group's 64 thousand lawyers, will carry us into the future, and is in accordance with our principles."

A statement on the website of the Önce İlke Çağdaş Avukatlar Grubu indicated that group members met on July 8, 2024, an Election Committee was formed, and a decision was made to hold a Candidate Determination Assembly (Primary Election) on September 14, 2024, to determine the President and Board candidates.

News Source: 12punto