Berhan Şimşek announces candidacy for CHP chairmanship: A three-way race at the convention

As all eyes in the Republican People's Party (CHP) turn to the extraordinary convention to be held on Saturday, April 6, a surprise candidacy announcement has arrived. Berhan Şimşek, a 22nd-term CHP deputy and former Istanbul Provincial Chair, has announced that he will join the race for the party chairmanship.

Şimşek, who also worked as a film actor and director for a period, will compete for the chairmanship against the current CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal. Thus, a three-way competition is expected at the convention.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated in a recent announcement that they had decided to hold an extraordinary convention to take precautions against the possibility of a trustee being appointed to the party. In line with this decision, delegates will head to the polls on Sunday, April 6.

KILIÇDAROĞLU IS NOT A CANDIDATE

Former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, whose name had been circulating in the lobbies for some time, announced that he would not be a candidate at this convention. 

WHO IS BERHAN ŞİMŞEK?

Berhan Şimşek was born on May 15, 1958, in Bayburt as the son of Nuri Şimşek and Alime Şimşek. He was born as the 10th of 11 children. He completed his primary education in Bayburt, his secondary education at Istanbul Abdülhakhamit Evening Secondary School, and his high school education at Vefa Evening High School. In 2011, he graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Anadolu University's Faculty of Business. In 2014, he completed a master's degree in Public Law at Yeditepe University's Faculty of Law. In his film career, which began in 1978, he acted in films such as Hoşçakal Yarın, Uzlaşma, İpekçe, and Işıklar Sönmesin. Berhan Şimşek, who also directed television series, is the recipient of the Magazine Journalists Association's "Best Actor" award and the 1994 Ankara Film Festival's "Best Actor" award.

A founder of the Contemporary Cinema Actors Association, Berhan Şimşek is a member of the Nazım Hikmet Foundation and the 68ers Union. He wrote columns for the Günaydın newspaper and election articles for the Milliyet newspaper. Having been elected to the Party Assembly at the 10th Extraordinary Convention of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in 1999, Berhan Şimşek served as a member of the Party Assembly and the Central Executive Board (MYK) for nine terms.

He served as a CHP Istanbul Deputy during the 22nd term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (2002-2007). During this period, he served as a member of the Committee on National Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, and as the President of the Turkey-Hungary Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. In active politics, he most recently served as the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair between June 14, 2010, and January 8, 2011. 

News Source: 12punto