Tanju Özcan: 'I have returned to my Father's House'

The CHP Central Executive Board had accepted the 'request for return to the party' by Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan by a majority vote today and referred the request to the Party Assembly.

'RETURN TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE'

Sharing a post on his Twitter account before the decision, Özcan had stated: "I have learned with pleasure that the issue regarding my request to return to the 'Father's House' will be on the agenda of the CHP Central Executive Board and the Party Assembly today. As a success-oriented politician in this process, I ask for forgiveness from our party members whom I may have unintentionally hurt or upset due to my posts and statements. From now on, I will work even harder for the success of our party both locally and nationally. Everything will be much better."

Özcan has now announced that his request has been accepted.

"I WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS"

Özcan said: "I just received the good news from our Bolu Provincial Chair, Mert Karagöz. I have returned to the Father's House. I would like to express my gratitude primarily to our Chairman Özgür Özel and the members of the CHP Party Assembly. I will continue to engage in politics within Atatürk's party and within the framework of his principles. Everything will be much better."

I just received the good news from our Bolu Provincial Chair @karagz_mert.

I have returned to the Father's House.

I would like to express my gratitude primarily to our Chairman @eczozgurozel and the members of the @herkesicinCHP Party Assembly.

I will continue to engage in politics within Atatürk's party and within the framework of his principles…

— Tanju ÖZCAN (@tanjuozcanchp) November 27, 2023

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Tanju Özcan was referred to disciplinary proceedings last year due to attitudes and behaviors incompatible with party rules following a dialogue with a female member of the Bolu Municipal Council. The CHP High Disciplinary Board had imposed a one-year temporary expulsion penalty on Özcan. Ten days after this penalty expired, Tanju Özcan was referred to disciplinary proceedings again with a request for permanent expulsion.

Referred to disciplinary proceedings with a request for permanent expulsion from the party, Özcan began walking from Bolu to the CHP headquarters in Ankara on July 3 with the theme of 'change' and 'justice'. Upon arriving at the CHP Headquarters, Özcan criticized the party's chairman, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

One day before being expelled from the party, Özcan had announced that he would resign: "The chairman has given instructions. He said, 'Expel him from the party by the 20th at the latest.' I will resign from my party on the 19th so as not to give them that pleasure."

The Bolu mayor later abandoned this decision: "I will not resign, let this go down in history. Let them expel me. I am curious about what will be written in the reasoned decision."

Özcan was expelled from the CHP on July 26.

News Source: 12punto