Kılıçdaroğlu has increased his power

Now that CHP General Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has obtained full authority over list compilation following finalisation of the 600 names in the CHP, there is turmoil in the lobbies over his intentions. With the rejection of a total of fifty MPs who were seeking candidacy, what those kept off the list have in common is said to be that that they were “people who have brought Kılıçdaroğlu’s general chairship into debate.” On the other hand, the eradication of most of the left wing has led to comments that votes will swing to the HDP and the CHP will ensure that the HDP gains a strong parliamentary presence with this list.

 The following scenarios are doing the rounds in party lobbies:

 Leadership consolidated: The talk in the lobbies is that what those Kılıçdaroğlu weeded out had in common was that they were “people who have brought Kılıçdaroğlu’s general chairship into debate,” and that, along with figures who have from time to time clashed with party policy, potential rivals have also been eliminated. By eliminating them, Kılıçdaroğlu is said to have guaranteed his hold on power in the party.

 Rebels join İnce: While the CHP’s presidential candidate Muharrem İnce and Kılıçdaroğlu were negotiating the candidacy, İnce is said to have obtained a promise about his parliamentary election team, but the ensuing lists suggest that this promise was not kept. With absolutely no adjustments made to the lists despite İnce voicing his dissatisfaction, the resulting conclusion is that the presidential candidate has been left on his own and it is said that most of the rebels who have been weeded out will work alongside İnce.

 The acquiescent remain: The people who made it onto the list are said for the most part to be figures who will not cause difficulty for either the alliance or the CHP in parliament, will unobjectingly apply headquarters’ policies, will not make disputes public and will not act according to their own volition. It is said that a “multiplicity of voices” will thus be circumvented.

 301 not put at risk: The talk in the lobbies is that the exclusion of the alignment on the left will produce a swing from the CHP to the HDP in provinces such as Istanbul where Kurdish voters’ preferences will have a significant influence on the election results and the HDP, which was not admitted to the Nation Alliance due especially to the Good Party’s influence, will gain a stronger parliamentary presence thus not putting the opposition’s minimum 301 seats at risk.

 Reactions risked: With Kılıçdaroğlu said to have shown loyalty by protecting the colleagues with whom he has worked for long years on the Central Executive Committee, it is also noticeable that people like Selin Sayek Böke and Aykut Erdoğdu who are strong in the party and are aligned on the left have been kept in place and the left has not been entirely eliminated. With it noted that, contrary to his personal interests, he made room on his lists for the SP, sent fifteen MPs to the Good Party and pursued a policy that will see a portion of the left-wing vote swinging to the HDP, Kılıçdaroğlu is said to have made the list this way to maintain the unity he fostered with the Justice March and at the risk of courting all potential reactions citing a democrat deficit.

 ‘Kılıçdaroğlu gücünü artırdı’