Congress Stalemate in CHP: The Struggle for Power Grows Fiercer
Internal politics in the Republican People’s Party (CHP) is back on the agenda with Istanbul MP Oğuz Kaan Salıcı’s call for a “congress”. The intra-party conflicts that started in Esenyurt grew even bigger with Salıcı’s statement that “CHP has stepped out of line”. This outburst, based on criticism of party policies and a demand for change, fueled the power struggle within the party.
Salıcı’s ‘Kurultay’ Demand
In a statement on social media, Oğuz Kaan Salıcı criticized the CHP’s policy-making approach. “The CHP does not determine its politics according to poll results,” Salıcı said, emphasizing that the convention process is not a favor, but the right of party members. He also referred to the words of former Secretary General Kamil Kırıkoğlu and said, “The chairman of our party is not a sultan.”
Salıcı’s remarks sparked fierce debates within the party leadership and among MPs. Party spokesperson Deniz Yücel’s accusation of “arrogance and ambition” against Salıcı further raised tensions.
Polemic on Social Media
The debate that started after Salıcı’s call for a congress turned into a duel of words on social media within the CHP. Yücel accused Salıcı of acting out of personal ambition and said, “Every action and discourse that damages the party’s corporate identity will not be indifferent.”
However, these statements drew the reaction of Izmir MP Mahir Polat. Polat stated that Salıcı’s criticisms were appropriate and that people with responsibility within the party should be more careful in their statements.
50 MPs mobilized for a convention call
The crisis within the party has deepened with the claim that 50 deputies have started collecting signatures to call for an extraordinary convention. Salıcı’s criticisms, made by a name known to be close to former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, resonated widely among the party’s base.
In his statement, Salıcı also criticized CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, saying that the party’s political course is uncertain and this situation does not befit the office of the chairman.
Change and the Search for a Future in CHP
The discussions have brought the long-standing demand for change in the party back to the agenda. While some within the CHP see the call for a convention as a necessity for internal democracy, others believe that such attempts harm the party’s image.
The recent events reveal that the CHP is in an important struggle not only with its political rivals but also within itself. Decisions on the future of the party and its political line will be shaped by these internal debates.
The Challenging Process Ahead for the CHP
It remains to be seen how the congress discussions will be received by the CHP’s grassroots and how the party leadership will emerge from this crisis. How the CHP manages this internal showdown will directly affect the balance within the party and its political struggle outside.
