CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre was the guest on the program 'Siyasetin İçinden' broadcast on 12punto: How great is the competition within the CHP?

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre was the guest of Onur Alp Yılmaz on 12punto.

Yunus Emre criticized the pro-government media's attacks on the Republican People's Party (CHP) and their efforts to create a perception of infighting within the party. Emre stated that as part of active politics, it is natural to target powerful positions such as the Presidency, but that this should not be considered a crime.

PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA FOCUSED ON TWO MAIN STRATEGIES

Yunus Emre stated that the pro-government media has focused on two main strategies. First, he said that they are trying to create a negative perception in the public eye through news reports and slanders aimed at portraying Republican People's Party municipalities as unsuccessful. Second, he emphasized that they want to create the impression that the party is being dragged into an environment of internal conflict through opinion pieces and news reports that highlight conflicts within the CHP.

AKP IS NO LONGER THE LEADING PARTY

Yunus Emre stated that the AKP has lost its position as the leading party in Turkey and that Erdoğan winning the Presidential elections is not seen as a likely prospect. In this context, he expressed that there is a desire to drag the CHP into internal strife that would lead to internal divisions and paralysis of activities, but that this is not a realistic scenario.

WE ALL WORKED FOR KILIÇDAROĞLU TO BE SUCCESSFUL

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre evaluated the efforts shown by party members for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's electoral success in the 2023 elections and the government's expectations regarding internal strife. Emre stated that Mansur Yavaş, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and CHP Chairman Özgür Özel all made great efforts for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's success. He reminded that even some friends who were not nominated for office made sacrifices for the party's success and were subjected to attacks in some cases.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS INTERNAL TURMOIL

Yunus Emre stated that members of the Republican People's Party will always strive for the party's success in elections and in the future, and that there is no such thing as internal turmoil as the government thinks. He also emphasized that competition is not a bad thing and that it is a healthy situation for mayors to highlight their own successes. Emre said that competition within the party should be evaluated as a factor that increases the party's success.

WE HAVE SEIZED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre emphasized that the Republican People's Party has seized a historic opportunity and that this opportunity must not be missed. Stating that they are in a stronger position than they have been since the 1977 elections, Emre expressed that failure under these conditions would carry a heavy burden and that the public could impose a severe penalty.

Emre said that everyone needs to think correctly and take the right steps for the party's success. He also noted that the timing of the elections is important, but that the public's high level of interest raises the thought that the government might be on one side of the issue. Emre pointed out that this situation could have an impact on the party's internal operations and strategic planning.

THE DECISION FOR EARLY ELECTIONS LIES WITH ERDOĞAN

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre stated that President Erdoğan being a candidate in the next election would only be possible if an early election is held. Emre stated that it is the AKP and Erdoğan themselves who will decide whether President Erdoğan can run again.

Emre said that an early election depends on the decision of Erdoğan and his party. If Erdoğan and his party decide that the elections should be held on time, then it might be possible for Erdoğan to be a candidate again. However, he stated that if the elections are held early, this decision would also come from Erdoğan and his party.

He stated that as the CHP, they would support holding early elections, but that if the necessary majority is achieved to renew the elections, they cannot intervene in the issue of Erdoğan's candidacy. Emre emphasized that the CHP's priority is not whether Erdoğan runs again, but ensuring that the elections are held on time.

REGARDING THE NORMALIZATION PROCESS

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre stated that the normalization process initiated by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel has invalidated the government's accusations against the party. Emre stated that with this policy, the government had accused the CHP of being terrorists and having bad intentions, but that these accusations are invalid and this became clearly evident with President Erdoğan's visit to the CHP Headquarters.

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre said that these visits and the previous meetings at the AK Party Headquarters show that the CHP is not in cooperation with terrorism and that the party is exchanging views on fundamental issues. He emphasized that this situation helps citizens who have voted for the AKP and MHP overcome their fears and helps the party find broader support in society.

NORMALIZATION WILL CREATE LONG-TERM SOCIAL MOBILITY

Yunus Emre also stated that the normalization process will create not just a short-term election campaign, but long-term social mobility.

He stated that during the election process, candidates will take the field with a 6-month campaign period, travel across Anatolia to introduce themselves, and collect aid for their election campaigns through legal means. Emre said that this process will provide candidates with great social support, and that the candidates will have the backing of broad social support, not just the party headquarters.

REGARDING THE PARTY CHARTER

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre also evaluated the term limit application brought to the agenda in the party's new charter proposal on 12punto. Emre stated that the proposal envisions a three-term limit, but that if a primary election is held, the term limit might not be applied to central appointments.

Emre stated that term limit applications are not common in legislative assemblies around the world and that different election procedures can affect such applications. He emphasized that the charter proposal is evaluated as a regulation aimed at representation and change processes within the party.

TERM LIMIT IS A SOCIAL NECESSITY

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre evaluated what happened after the Presidential elections held in 2023. Emre stated that after the CHP failed in an election it thought it could win and the government continued for another 20 years, a discomfort arose among citizens regarding CHP members who have remained in office for a long time. He stated that this situation brought with it the thought that "some people in the CHP have remained in office for 20, 25 years" and that for this reason, the issue of term limits has become a social demand.

Emre emphasized that the term limit has come to the agenda as a social necessity and that this demand should be understood. He also stated that these debates will be handled within the scope of charter amendments.

CHP Istanbul MP Yunus Emre also made evaluations on Presidential candidacy on 12punto. Emre emphasized the importance of the uniqueness of each electoral district and region and stated that these differences should be taken into account.

He also stated that in a large and diverse country like Turkey, trust issues constitute a serious problem.

Emre said that the fact that everything is included in detail in documents such as the charter and the constitution stems from a lack of trust, both institutional and interpersonal. He stated that citizens in Turkey feel the need to write everything into the charter or the constitution due to a lack of trust. He expressed that this situation is a reflection of trust problems.

News Source : 12punto