Özgür Özel elected Chairman of the Republican People’s Party for the fourth time

Özgür Özel elected Chairman of the Republican People’s Party for the fourth time

Özgür Özel was elected Chairman of the Republican People’s Party of Turkey (CHP) for the fourth time at the Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Congress. As the sole candidate, he received all valid votes from the delegates. The Congress Presidium announced that no other candidate had registered. According to the party statute, the incumbent chairman may run without collecting signatures; therefore, Özel was the only candidate.

The second day of the Congress was held under the slogan “Now is the time for power.” Banners and posters with general and supportive messages were displayed in the hall. The names of imprisoned mayors were read aloud, and the delegates paid tribute to them with slogans and applause. A message of support was also read.

Özgür Özel entered the Ankara Sports Hall with his wife Didem Özel and sat in the special section alongside Murat Karayalçın, former chairman of the party. In addition to CHP members, prominent figures and representatives of other parties, including the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Democratic Party, attended the Congress. Representatives from domestic parties, civil society organizations, academics, diplomats, as well as guests from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and European leftist and social democratic parties were also present.

Lars, Co-Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and Deputy Chancellor, sent a message to the Congress emphasizing support for democracy and the rule of law, expressing concern about restrictions on opposition politicians in Turkey, and stressing continued cooperation between the two parties.

The message of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the imprisoned presidential candidate of CHP, was read from Silivri Prison and drew great attention. In his message, İmamoğlu criticized government policies, described the country’s economic and social conditions as difficult, and stressed that only CHP had the capacity to carry out fundamental reforms. He stated that Turkey was at a historic crossroads and warned that the current rulers did not intend to relinquish power. He added that in the second century of the Republic, CHP must transform Turkey into a more democratic, stronger, and more prosperous country, calling this Congress the last ordinary meeting before the elections.

Following İmamoğlu’s message, Özgür Özel delivered the opening speech of the second day. Referring to the hardships of the past two years, he emphasized the necessity of perseverance and declared: “No one has the power to extinguish the fire ignited by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.” He told the delegates that their duty was to elect cadres capable of bringing the party to power. Remembering Altan Öymen and Hikmet Çetin, he promised: “This Congress will be the last Congress of CHP in opposition, and the fortieth Congress will be the first in power.” His words were met with enthusiastic applause.

Part of Özel’s remarks was reflected in the media as a response to statements by former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Özel stressed that the struggle against the organization would continue and that there was no place in the party for those who were fearful or collaborated with it. He added that if necessary, the cleansing would target the mentality seeking to restrict CHP or remove it from public life. Kılıçdaroğlu had earlier told Sabah newspaper that the party must be purged of any ties to corruption. Özel’s words were warmly received by the delegates.

During the Congress, registration for membership in the Party Assembly and the High Disciplinary Board began and continued until the following morning. The election for the general chairmanship was scheduled for November 29, and the election for Party Assembly members for November 30. Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Ankara, cast his vote and expressed hope that this Congress would be the last with CHP in opposition. Dilek İmamoğlu, wife of Ekrem İmamoğlu, also wished that the election of the chairman would be successful for the country and the nation. Özgür Çelik, CHP Chairman in Istanbul, stated that Özel’s re-election was due to judicial pressure on local administrators and attempts to control the party’s institutional identity.

On the first day of the Congress, the party program was revised after 17 years and unanimously approved by the delegates. The authority for further amendments was delegated to the Central Executive Committee. After achieving quorum, the Congress opened with Özel’s speech. Ayşe Ünlüce was elected chair of the council, and the program and bylaw committees were formed with the delegates’ approval. The revised program, prepared over 14 months, was introduced by Selin Sayek Böke, followed by shadow ministers presenting their views in various fields. At the end of the first day, amendments to the statute and regulations were put to a vote, and all proposed articles were unanimously adopted.