Özgür Özel evaluates the 'Divan Chairmanship' decision: 'We are pleased, but...'

CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu offered the Divan Chairmanship at the CHP Ordinary Congress to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor İmamoğlu. Following this, CHP Group Chairman and Presidential Candidate Özgür Özel, who met with İmamoğlu, explained the details of the meeting.

"I WOULD WANT EKREM BEY"

Speaking to Eray Görgülü at T24, Özel noted that they had conducted a situation assessment with İmamoğlu a few days before the meeting between Kılıçdaroğlu and İmamoğlu in Ahlatlıbel. Özel said, "Such a possibility had already emerged a few days ago. We had made a preliminary assessment. Now we have evaluated the entire process. We chatted, drank coffee, and caught up a bit. We also view it positively. If you were to ask me who I would want as the divan chair, I would want Ekrem Bey."

REMINDED OF THE "CANNOT COLLECT 100 SIGNATURES" REMARK

Noting that this situation also demonstrates the trust placed in İmamoğlu, Özel continued as follows:

"Also, since Ekrem Bey is clearly in favor of change, the fact that the Headquarters wants Ekrem Bey for the Divan Chairmanship—at a point where they were saying a few months ago that the change advocates could not collect 100 signatures—also shows the point that the change has reached."

"DEMOCRATIC ATTITUDE" CRITICISM

"It must also be said that this situation might be intended to be portrayed from the outside as a democratic attitude by the Headquarters. But in 81 provinces, divan chairs were appointed without asking us at all. We even experienced instances in some places where they sent other names against divan chairs who were in favor of change and told them to push this friend forward. Because they felt strong at that time. The fact that they are proposing someone who has taken a clear stance in favor of change for the Divan Chairmanship at the point reached today shows that the power balances in terms of the congress are no longer as they were in the eyes of the headquarters during the summer."

"DOES NOT ABSOLVE"

"The Headquarters appointed deputy chairmen and names close to the Headquarters for the divan chairmanship in 81 provinces without asking us at all. The fact that they are reaching a consensus today both shows the power of the change and does not absolve the entire process carried out throughout the summer. It does not absolve them of sending divan chairs to 81 provinces without asking anyone."

News Source: 12punto