Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu returns to lead CHP following court ruling annulling party congress results
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to the post of CHP chairman by court order, emphasized that he does not consider Ekrem İmamoğlu a "political prisoner," despite disagreeing with his arrest.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh2 min read
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to the post of chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) after a court invalidated the results of the party's 38th ordinary congress held in November 2023, has announced his readiness to hold a repeat congress. According to Kılıçdaroğlu, the court's decision to annul the event's results has led to the reinstatement of the entire previous leadership, including members of the Party Council and the Central Executive Committee.
In an interview, Kılıçdaroğlu commented on the situation surrounding Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The politician emphasized that he does not consider İmamoğlu a "political prisoner," noting that the legal proceedings against the mayor, related to corruption allegations, should be viewed separately from his political activities and potential presidential candidacy. At the same time, Kılıçdaroğlu reaffirmed that he still considers the arrest of İmamoğlu to be unjustified.
Responding to a question about potential cooperation with İmamoğlu should he enter the presidential race, Kılıçdaroğlu stated the need for the opposition to unite its efforts to reach 51% of the vote. He emphasized that he is always open to consultations and negotiations, noting that in politics, the interests of the country must come before personal differences.
Kılıçdaroğlu acknowledged that the split in the party and the creation of the "New Party" (Yeni Parti) by supporters of Özgür Özel would lead to a loss of influence, but expressed confidence that the situation would stabilize over time. He also reported that he had instructed regional leaders not to engage in conflicts or criticize the new political structure, focusing instead on opposing the current government.
Touching on the reasons for the legal proceedings regarding the 38th congress, Kılıçdaroğlu cited the testimony of participants who admitted to receiving and transferring funds in exchange for votes. He emphasized that he is not a party to this process and did not testify in court, but believes the court's decision is a necessary step to restore the legality of internal party procedures.
The former CHP leader also commented on the police incident at the party headquarters on May 24, calling the restriction of deputies' access to the building unacceptable. He criticized the leadership of Özgür Özel for failing to take a clear stance in defense of the integrity of party congresses, stating that the party should have openly refuted the corruption allegations leveled against the delegates.
Source: cnnturk.com
