After 'Absolute Nullity' Ruling on CHP, Mansur Yavaş Calls on Kılıçdaroğlu: 'Announce a Congress Decision'

The recent court decision declaring an "absolute nullity" concerning the Republican People's Party (CHP) has drawn sharp criticism from Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş. In a statement that resonates deeply within Turkey's political landscape, Yavaş decried the ruling as a stark illustration of how law, democracy, and the people's will are being suppressed. He emphasized that no institution should preempt the outcomes of ongoing criminal proceedings, a principle fundamental to the rule of law.

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This is one of the clearest indications of how law, democracy, and the will of the nation are being suppressed in Turkey.

Yavaş's critique specifically targets the court's apparent pre-judgment of election fraud before legal processes are finalized. He asserted that such actions undermine the authority of the Supreme Election Council (YSK), whose mandate is to oversee elections. This intervention, he believes, is not merely a legal matter but a political maneuver aimed at weakening and dividing the main opposition party, thereby benefiting the ruling government.

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No one, no institution in a state of law can replace a pending judicial process.

From our perspective at Cumhuriyet, this situation is deeply concerning. While Western media might focus on the procedural aspects of the court's decision, we see it as a direct assault on democratic principles. The timing and nature of this ruling suggest a deliberate attempt to destabilize the opposition ahead of crucial political moments. The call by Mayor Yavaş for an internal party congress, to be decided by the party's own will within a couple of months, is a call for democratic self-determination against external political pressure.

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The future of political parties should be determined by the public in light of democratic processes, not in courtrooms.

This internal struggle within the CHP, exacerbated by external judicial interference, risks deepening societal polarization and eroding public trust in political institutions. Yavaş's plea for unity and adherence to democratic norms is not just for the party's sake but for the broader health of Turkish democracy. The ultimate power, as he rightly stated, rests with the people, and their decisions should be made at the ballot box, not in courtrooms.

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The word, the decision, and the seal belong to the nation.