12punto followed the CHP Provincial Congress step by step: Tension, chaos, and the victory of the change-makers

Party members began gathering at the Haliç Congress Center around 08:00 in the morning for the Republican People's Party's Istanbul Provincial Chair election. 

In the congress where two candidates competed, Cemal Canpolat was the candidate of the CHP Headquarters, while Özgür Çelik was the candidate of the change-makers.

By 11:00, the hall was completely full. 

At 12:30, the congress began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem. 

Immediately afterward, former provincial chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu took the stage. At the congress, which 12punto.com.tr reported on moment by moment, both some party members and some members of the press were discussing the possibility of major fights breaking out. 

However, there were small-scale tensions in the balcony section of the hall. 

After Sultangazi CHP District Chair Kemal Avseren was invited to the stage as a speaker, tension arose when the change-maker youth began to boo the district chair. 

As the tension persisted, the two candidates, Cemal Canpolat and Özgür Çelik, took the stage and called for peace. 

Those who could not enter the hall followed the speeches from screens set up at the entrances and in the garden. 

The voting concluded around 01:00 at night, and at 00:55, it was announced by some party members that the Istanbul Provincial Chair was Özgür Çelik. 

Following this, some of the party members began chanting slogans about Özgür Çelik and waited for the official announcement. 

According to the official results announced at the congress where Cemal Canpolat and Özgür Çelik competed, 652 delegates cast their votes. Özgür Çelik, who received 342 delegate votes, became the provincial chair at the end of the race. 

After the result was finalized, Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik took the stage and said, "If Mr. Cemal Canpolat and Canan Kaftancıoğlu are here, I invite them to the stage as well." However, it was observed that neither of the two names was in the hall. 

Özgür Çelik stated, "We ignited the spark in Istanbul; I came with 26 district chairs and I am leaving with 39 district chairs." 

When we asked party members the question of how much this result in Istanbul would affect the general chair election, they commented, "There are also delegates close to the headquarters on Özgür Çelik's list. Therefore, it will not have much of an effect," but we will all see together whether the result will be influential in the grand assembly to be held in November. 

Party members who came to the Haliç Congress Center for the Provincial Chair election faced major organizational problems. Especially those coming from the direction of the Halıcıoğlu Metrobus station had to walk nearly 3 kilometers. 

News Source: Müslim Sarıyar