Discipline warning for in-party opposition

The CHP Central Executive Committee (CEC) has convened for the first time since the conclusion of the opposition’s first-stage attempt to garner signatures. At the CEC chaired by General Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, eighteen deputy general chairs stood down from their posts declaring their support for the General Chair so as to strengthen Kılıçdaroğlu’s hand and reduce in-party tension. It has been learnt that Kılıçdaroğlu, who is expected to announce the new CEC today, also gave the message of radical and robust post-election change in the organisations. Saying that going forward disciplinary procedures would be enacted against people who embroil the party in debilitating debate, Kılıçdaroğlu is learnt to have said, “We will show no conciliation in this regard. The necessary action will be taken against them.”

 Staffers stood down

 The CHP CEC convened for the first time yesterday at headquarters since official processing of the requests for an extraordinary congress. The CEC, chaired by General Chair Kılıçdaroğlu, lasted for some three hours.

 At the CEC, all the deputy general chairs asked at their own initiative to be “excused” in view of certain figures in the party administration in particular having been taken to task in the talk about failure and change that prevailed in the aftermath of the 24 June elections. With staffers Akif Hamzaçebi, Bülent Tezcan, Fethi Açıkel, Onursal Adıgüzel, Veli Ağbaba, Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, Gülizar Biçer Karaca, Çetin Osman Budak, Ünal Çeviköz, Aykut Erdoğdu, Muharrem Erkek, Lale Karabıyık, Haluk Koç, Tuncay Özkan, Faik Öztrak, Seyit Torun and Öztürk Yılmaz standing down, they stressed, saying, “We must present you with an opportunity to make changes to the administration going forward. We have full support for you,” that they stood behind the decisions the General Chair would subsequently take and the new CEC that would be constituted. At the meeting, Deputy General Chair with Responsibility for Human Rights, Tekin Bingöl, for his part asked to be excused from taking a post on the new CEC, too. Bingöl is learnt to have said, “I have worked until now in allegiance to you and will also remain in allegiance to you hereafter. I wish from now on to be excused and may the way be opened for new colleagues.”

 Success or lack of success immaterial

 Following the staffers who one by one took the floor, Kılıçdaroğlu is stated to have remarked, “In revising the CEC, I took no account of our colleagues’ success or lack of success. Since I perceived the need for renewal, I will make recourse to such means so as to respond to this need. Let the conclusion not prevail that those unappointed in the new period are unsuccessful and those appointed are successful.”

 PA will be brought into effective operation

 From what has been gleaned, the Party Assembly (PA) will be operated more effectively in the new working period. PA members will assume duties in certain matters and compile reports in relation to these. Far more tasks will be assigned to PA members in political matters.

 From what has been gleaned, Kılıçdaroğlu is stated to have said, “However much the garnered signatures did not suffice for a congress, a figure in excess of 500 amounts to an important figure. Consideration must absolutely be given to this.” Kılıçdaroğlu also apparently mentioned that he had constantly been obliged to postpone a comprehensive structural initiative with regard to the organisations. The most pressing reason for this postponement was said to be the total of nine elections held over eight years. Saying, “There must be a robust change from A to Z,” Kılıçdaroğlu is learnt to have intimated that serious change in structural terms in the organisations is in the offing following the local elections.

 Discipline for those embroiling the party in debate

 Indicating the extraordinary congress process had seriously harmed the party and there was a need to speedily exit the congress debate, Kılıçdaroğlu is learnt to have said, “The country’s circumstances are a given. An economic crisis is on the way. The signatories are from our party and are all held in esteem by us. We will not harbour rancour towards anyone. But, going forward, we will bring disciplinary procedures to bear on people who bring the party into constant debate and embroil it in debilitating debate. We will show no conciliation in this regard. The necessary action will be taken against them.” Accordingly, alongside the judicial recourse that will be taken from this stage onwards in relation to defamation and those who assault personal rights, disciplinary measures will also be invoked against those who continue to discuss the party in public. It was noted that the comment was made at the CEC with reference to ongoing actions in front of the party that, “The party frontage is not a protest zone.” It is stated that these people may have their ties with the party cut off following checks as to whether they are party members.

 The convening committee and İnce signatories will meet

 It has been learnt that the congress convening committee will meet in the coming days with signatory delegates and all options as to potential action in the upcoming process will be placed on the table and a wide-ranging meeting will be held. It is stated that at the meeting, alongside the judicial process and the potential for a rule-book congress, there will discussion as to whether a further attempt to garner signatures for an extraordinary congress will be embarked on. There is talk of Muharrem İnce also participating at the meeting.

 New CEC to be announced

 Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to announce his new CEC today, and by tomorrow at the latest. It is stated that Kılıçdaroğlu is readying the new CEC with “balance” in mind and may also include figures who requested a congress, there will be a decrease in number of posts and those targeted as mayors in the local elections will not be included on the CEC.

 The word in the lobbies that numbering among figures who may be appointed to the CEC are Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, Yunus Emre, Gökhan Zeybek, Yıldırım Kaya, Orhan Sarıbal, Haluk Pekşen and Hakkı Süha Okay. It is stated that figures included on the present CEC such as Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, Faik Öztrak and Ünal Çeviköz may also be on the new CEC. On the other hand, certain individuals have begun meeting in their chambers following the CEC. Deputy General Chairs Tekin Bingöl, Aykut Erdoğdu and Lale Karabıyık are stated to have held meetings in their chambers.

 From what has been gleaned, at the first CEC to convene following the 24 June elections, the deputy general chairs intimated to Kılıçdaroğlu that they would stand down immediately on request in view of the size of the vote that was obtained and the presidential election not going through to a second round as expected.

 With no such change ensuing in the first weeks of the election, the CEC is stated to have taken such a decision mindful of the outbreak of controversy over signatures and the criticism of party administration that has been forthcoming since election night.

 For his part, Kılıçdaroğlu, remaining silent about internal party disputes over the process, had fielded questions on his departure from addressing the party group and, saying, “If there is one thing that doesn’t change, that is change. You will see that there will be serious changes in the party in the new process,” indicated that change would be made to the CEC. Following Tuesday 24 July on which the said comments were made there was a noticeable day-by-day fall in the number of signatories calling for a congress. According to the official figures that headquarters released, following this comment, the number of delegate signatories were fifteen, twelve, eleven and six respectively on Wednesday 25 July, Thursday 26 July, Friday 27 July and Monday 30 July.

 Third change without a congress

 The first change that was made without a congress in the CHP in the Kılıçdaroğlu period followed the 2011 general elections, while the second took place following the 2014 local elections. If Kılıçdaroğlu sees fit to change the CEC, the CEC will have changed for the third time without a congress on his watch.

 On the other hand, an event will be staged at the ATO Congresium on the date of the CHP’s founding, 9 September (today), and Sunay Akın will make a presentation about the Republic and the CHP’s history at the event.

 Partiyi tartıştırana ‘disiplin’ yolu