CHP's Extraordinary Congress Push Begins: 'First Signatures Collected,' Says Leader Özel

A critical phase has begun within Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP) as efforts to convene an extraordinary congress gain momentum. Party leader Özgür Özel announced that the signature-gathering process has been initiated, with the first signatures collected from delegates in Kayseri.

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No one's resignation from the party is correct. Signatures are being collected rapidly from all over Turkey. We need slightly over 550 signatures.

"No one's resignation from the party is correct. Signatures are being collected rapidly from all over Turkey. We need slightly over 550 signatures," Özel stated. He highlighted the symbolic nature of the first signature coming from a delegate who had previously opposed him, framing it as a call to "jointly resist this unjust coup that respects elected officials and insults the will of the congress."

Özel reported that signatures are being gathered swiftly from across the country, with Rize completing its signature collection within ten minutes. He noted that party deputies have not yet submitted their signatures, prioritizing the collection from the party's grassroots organization first. He expressed confidence that the required number of signatures would be collected quickly, aiming to submit the application without significant delay.

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The first signature came from our Kayseri delegate; with the note 'First sale from Kayseri, blessings from God.' This process, as a symbolic signature, came from our Kayseri delegate who stood against us in the last congress, who did not vote for us, who fiercely opposed us in Kayseri... saying 'we must jointly resist this unjust coup that respects elected officials and insults the will of the congress.'

"It is not right for our party, which brought the ballot box to Turkey, to be managed without a ballot box result within its own structure. It is deeply wounding our party and the country," Özel asserted, underscoring the urgency of the situation. The push for an extraordinary congress reflects internal party dynamics and a desire for a leadership change or a reaffirmation of the current leadership's mandate through a vote.

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It is not right for our party, which brought the ballot box to Turkey, to be managed without a ballot box result within its own structure. It is deeply wounding our party and the country.