BREAKING NEWS... Özgür Özel re-elected as CHP Chairman!

The Republican People's Party (CHP) convened its 21st Extraordinary Congress to address the possibility of a trustee being appointed to the party following ongoing investigations and allegations of irregularities regarding the 38th Ordinary Congress. At the congress held at the Nazım Hikmet Culture Center in Ankara, incumbent chairman Özgür Özel was re-elected as chairman with 1,171 votes in an election where he was the sole candidate.

Özel: “We are resisting a civil coup”

The congress began with an opening speech by Chairman Özgür Özel. In his speech, Özel sent greetings to the imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and launched harsh criticisms against the government.

Starting his speech by saying, “Greetings to my brave, lionhearted Ekrem, the CHP's presidential candidate who is currently in Silivri,” Özel stated, “Atatürk's party is holding its congress while Turkey's next president is resisting a civil coup.”

Claiming that the government is trying to intimidate the opposition and municipalities by using public power, Özel said, “However, they have only weakened themselves with every step they have taken for this purpose.” Stating that the goal was to block İmamoğlu's path, Özel said, “Against these attacks, either the nation would remain silent or it would resist this coup. We decided to stand up and resist instead of surrendering.”

Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu became the Chairman of the Congress Council

Speaking at the opening of the congress, Özel stated that a quorum had been reached and announced that Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu had been proposed as the Chairman of the Congress Council. The proposal was accepted in the vote, and Çavuşoğlu became the chairman of the congress council.

Candidates clarified, Özgür Özel ran alone

According to the CHP Charter, the signature of at least 67 delegates is required for a chairmanship candidacy. In addition to Özgür Özel, the names who announced their candidacies were Antalya Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal and former deputy Berhan Şimşek.

Uysal announced in a statement before the congress that he was withdrawing from the race “in order not to damage my party.” Şimşek, on the other hand, could not collect enough signatures. Congress Council Chairman Çavuşoğlu announced that only Özgür Özel was able to secure the necessary signatures. Thus, Özel entered the election as the sole candidate for chairman of the congress.

Re-elected as chairman with 1,171 votes

In the voting held in the congress hall, 1,276 delegates cast their votes. While Özgür Özel was re-elected as chairman with 1,171 votes, 105 votes were declared invalid. After the election, Özel took the podium to deliver a thank-you speech, stating, “We will continue the struggle, for Ekrem, for democracy…”

Eyes on the Party Assembly election: Two lists will compete

At the congress, delegates will determine not only the chairman but also the 60-member Party Assembly (PM) and the members of the High Disciplinary Board. It was announced that the PM elections would be held using the open list method.

In this critical race, Özgür Özel's list will face off against the “balance and solidarity” list formed by Istanbul Deputy Oğuz Kaan Salıcı. The opposition group, which Salıcı had previously formed under the name “Balance and Oversight List,” will seek support from the delegates with a new list this time. In his statement, Salıcı said, “We say balance because we want a party that reflects the kind of country we want.”

An empty seat was reserved for İmamoğlu

A striking detail in the congress hall was the empty seat reserved in the front rows for Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It was observed that İmamoğlu's name was on the seat right next to Özgür Özel.

Kılıçdaroğlu was in the hall, but did not run

Former chairmen Altan Öymen, Hikmet Çetin, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and former SHP Chairman Murat Karayalçın also attended the congress.

In a statement he made recently, Kılıçdaroğlu had hinted that there were “irregularities” in the previous congress and had given a green light to his candidacy. However, Kılıçdaroğlu, who announced at the last minute that he would not be a candidate, followed the congress from the front rows.

News Source: 12punto