CHP MP calls for 'primary elections'

CHP İzmir MP Sevda Erdan Kılıç, in a statement made ahead of the upcoming Party Bylaw Congress, noted that the primary election method should be used for candidate selection.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Republican People's Party (CHP) İzmir MP and member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Constitutional Committee, Sevda Erdan Kılıç, made significant statements ahead of the party's upcoming Bylaw Congress. Kılıç stated that the party bylaws should serve as an example to Turkey and social democrats worldwide, emphasizing that primary elections are an indispensable tool of democracy in the candidate selection process.

Kılıç included the following statements in her remarks:

"The bylaws of the Republican People's Party, which we see as the guarantor of democracy, must be an example to all of Turkey and to all social democrats in the world. There is no power above the organization in our party, and the Republican People's Party draws its strength from its organization. For this reason, I believe that candidates in general and local elections should be determined through primary elections. Candidates determined by the will of the organization will best meet the expectations of the public."

Touching upon the importance of strengthening intra-party democracy, Kılıç stated that no practice other than the open list system (çarşaf liste) should be used in congresses and conventions. Furthermore, she proposed that the Secretary General and members of the Central Executive Board (MYK) be elected by the Party Assembly via secret ballot to maintain intra-party balance.

Kılıç also emphasized that "Active Member" and "Passive Member" practices should be added to the bylaws to further deepen the party's democratic culture. She expressed that this practice would contribute to the formation of a fairer and more democratic structure in intra-party elections and candidate selection processes.

PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND OPEN LISTS ARE OUR GREATEST GUARANTEE

Stating that the CHP will crown the second century of the Republic with democracy, Kılıç said, "Remaining loyal to the fundamental principles of our party, we must take steps that will earn the trust of our people. Primary elections and open list practices are our greatest guarantee in reaching this goal."

Sevda Erdan Kılıç also added that term limits should be introduced for MPs, mayors, and municipal council members, that political ethics rules should be included in the bylaws, and that the Strengthened Parliamentary System should be added to the bylaws.

Partimizin yaklaşan Tüzük Kurultayı öncesi görüşlerimi değerli örgütümüzle ve kamuoyuyla paylaşmak istiyorum.

Demokrasinin teminatı dediğimiz Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi’nin Tüzüğü, tüm Türkiye’ye ve dünyadaki tüm sosyal demokratlara örnek olmalıdır. Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi’nde…
— Av. Sevda Erdan Kılıç (@SEVDAERDAN) September 2, 2024