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CHP's New Leader: Our 'Crime' Was Beating the AKP and Becoming Turkey's Top Party
🇹🇷 Turkey /Elections & Politics

CHP's New Leader: Our 'Crime' Was Beating the AKP and Becoming Turkey's Top Party

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Newly elected CHP leader Özgür Özel stated their primary "crime" was defeating the AKP after 24 years and making the CHP the leading party after 47 years.
  • Özel recalled promising change and fulfilling it by addressing issues like youth engagement, women's representation, and scientific approaches, leading to a significant shift in voter sentiment.
  • He highlighted the "Delegate listen to the voice of the street" slogan at the congress, which empowered delegates to elect a new leader, marking a historic change for the party.

Newly elected Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel declared that the party's main "crime" was defeating the Justice and Development Party (AKP) after 24 years and becoming the leading party for the first time in 47 years. Speaking on Halk TV, Özel framed these achievements as the core of the party's recent transformation.

Our crime is defeating the Justice and Development Party after 24 years. This is our first crime. And the crime we committed against ourselves is making the party the number one party after 47 years.

— Özgür ÖzelÖzgür Özel's statement on Halk TV regarding the CHP's recent electoral success.

Özel recounted his promise at the party congress to bring the CHP to first place in elections, similar to Bülent Ecevit's success in the 1970s. He acknowledged the party's past electoral losses and the resulting disconnect with voters, noting a period where even retired teachers were disengaged and young people were not joining the party. "We had lost the election of the Republic's 100th year. We had lost a crucial election due to our own mistakes," he said, emphasizing the need for change.

If I do not make the party number one, I will take it to congress the next day and not be a candidate.

— Özgür ÖzelÖzgür Özel's promise made at the party congress regarding electoral performance.

He detailed the "change congress" where the party outlined its new direction, focusing on youth, women, science, and digital participation. Özel affirmed that they delivered on these promises, including increasing the women's quota to 50% and advocating for equal representation. He referenced Muharrem İnce's past comment that "Atatürk himself couldn't win with this delegation," underscoring the significant shift in delegate support that enabled the recent leadership change.

Delegate listen to the voice of the street.

— Slogan at CongressA slogan chanted at the CHP congress that Özgür Özel believes influenced the delegates.

The pivotal moment, Özel explained, was the persistent "Delegate listen to the voice of the street" slogan echoing through the congress hall. This sentiment, he believes, empowered the delegates to make a historic decision: to elect a new party leader through a vote, a first in the CHP's history. This change, he asserted, was achieved through a correct method, including candidate selection based on extensive polling.

Atatürk himself couldn't win with this delegation.

— Muharrem İnceA past statement by Muharrem İnce about the delegate structure of the CHP.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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