Ekrem İmamoğlu’s message of ‘change’ has stirred the CHP’s backstage. While Imamoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu are said to be cooperating, Özgür Özel is also seeking a compromise. The chairman may also change after the constitutional convention.
Days before the CHP’s statute convention to be held on September 6-9, discussions on ‘change’ have stirred up the CHP. Although it is already clear that the Bylaws Assembly will not be elective, the recent statements made by Chairman Özgür Özel, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the meetings that took place one after the other have led to comments that both the party’s chairman may change after the assembly and the negotiations on a possible presidential candidate have accelerated. It is said that Kılıçdaroğlu and İmamoğlu are cooperating, while Özgür Özel is seeking a compromise for the new term.
Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s message of ‘change’ sparked the debate on change. Imamoğlu said, “Last year at the event celebrating the 100th anniversary of our party, I said that if CHP changes, Turkey will change. In this sense, let me make it very clear, CHP will change and Turkey will change. This process, this journey cannot and should not have any other outcome.” A critical meeting took place immediately after his words.
HAS THE DOOR TO COOPERATION OPENED BETWEEN İMAMOĞLU AND KILIÇDAROĞLU?
Following these statements, İmamoğlu had a one-on-one meeting with former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, with whom he had not met since the congress. During the meeting, which took place at Kılıçdaroğlu’s house, the issue of the Bylaws Congress, the primary elections and the discomfort with Özel’s ‘normalization’ discourses were on the agenda. İmamoğlu later stated that he would continue this meeting and called Kılıçdaroğlu ‘the crown of my head’. While this meeting was seen as a ‘thawing of the ice’ in the party, it also opened the door for cooperation.
NO SPECIAL INVITATION TO THE WEDDING ATTENDED BY KILIÇDAROĞLU AND İMAMOĞLU
Shortly after this meeting, İmamoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu came together once again, this time at a wedding in Istanbul. The two sat side by side at the wedding of the son of former CHP Tuzla district chairman Hasan Uzunyayla and applauded each other during the presentations. The most glaring issue was the fact that CHP Chairman Özgür Özel was not present at the wedding despite being in Istanbul, and even claims that he was not invited. commented.
IS ÖZEL’S ‘I AM NOT A CANDIDATE’ STATEMENT A CALL FOR COMPROMISE TO IMAMOĞLU?
As İmamoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu held one meeting after another, this time Özgür Özel announced that he would meet with the former president. The message that Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel will give after their meeting is eagerly awaited by the party members. Before the meeting, Özel’s weekend statement that he will not be a presidential candidate is interpreted as a call for ‘reconciliation’ with Ekrem İmamoğlu. However, Özel’s announcement that he will not be a presidential candidate, while calling for ‘reconciliation’ to İmamoğlu, also reminds the possible candidacy of Mansur Yavaş. By attending the events organized by Mansur Yavaş, Özel is interpreted as not paving the way for the Ankara Metropolitan Mayor’s candidacy.
DELEGATE CALCULATIONS: TWO STANDING SIDE BY SIDE DESIGN THE PARTY
Delegate calculations underlie the talks between Özel-İmamoğlu-Kılıçdaroğlu. CHP sources point out that the proportion of delegates supporting Kılıçdaroğlu is currently around one-third, and that the two names that manage to stand side by side between Özel-İmamoğlu-Kılıçdaroğlu can design the party administration. At this point, recent meetings and statements give the impression that the CHP is waiting for a heated autumn after the Statute Congress.
GÜNAYDIN AND SALICI’S PRESIDENTIAL CALCULATIONS
While these developments are taking place on the Special-Imamoğlu-Kılıçdaroğlu front, CHP lobbies are talking about the possibility of a ‘change’ for the general presidency after the Statute Congress. The names of CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın and Istanbul Deputy Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, who have recently increased their visibility and have been subjected to veiled criticism, are considered as possible candidates after the Statute Congress.
Although the debate on any elective congress is completely closed for the Bylaws Assembly, there are rumors that controversial days await the CHP in the following period.
KILIÇDAROĞLU’S PERFORMANCE INTERPRETED AS KEY
His statements after his meeting with Kılıçdaroğlu and İmamoğlu are considered as a signal of his return to politics. The performance of the CHP under Özel’s leadership at the Bylaws Congress is interpreted as the key to the future.
Kulis: Imamoğlu may take action to become CHP Chairman
Imamoğlu is allegedly discussing with his close working team the possibility of running for CHP chairmanship. According to journalist Murat Sabuncu, İmamoğlu is also unhappy with some of the political steps taken by the party’s current leadership.
Journalist Murat Sabuncu wrote that Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu may take action to become CHP chairman. Sabuncu, in his article published on t24 today, shared the lobby that “Imamoğlu is said to have expressed his dissatisfaction with some of the political steps taken by the current leadership of the party.”
The relevant part of Sabuncu’s article is as follows:
“For some time now, Imamoğlu has been discussing with his close working team about taking steps to become the CHP chairman, or rather to run as a candidate. Various studies are being conducted on what kind of political future this would create for both the party and himself. I can even say that one of the issues discussed is that the judicial decision that would impose a political ban on İmamoğlu may not be easily taken if he is the leader of the main opposition party. Or even if such a decision is taken, it is also stated that the method of ‘fighting against those who made this decision’ may be different.
Let me also underline a solid backstage information. Imamoğlu is said to have expressed his dissatisfaction with some of the political steps taken by the current leadership of the party in some places.”