CHP’s purge enters its final turn as eyes turn to Kılıçdaroğlu on September 9

The Republican People’s Party, known as CHP, is approaching what the article calls the final stage of its internal “purification” process. Attention has turned to September 9, a date recognized as the party’s founding anniversary, when events will take place in Ankara and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to make a major announcement.

The long-awaited congress timetable is expected to be announced personally by Kılıçdaroğlu. Provincial and district party leaders are also expected to gather in Ankara for the occasion. The timetable would launch elections for provincial and district leaderships, followed by the selection of delegates to the party’s general congress.

The article says this would remove what it describes as a disputed delegate structure that had created serious problems for the party for three years. It also says the main congress is expected to convene rapidly after the Court of Cassation issues a ruling on an absolute nullity case. Party officials aim to complete the provincial and district congress processes before that ruling.

The developments follow the 2023 congress, where Kılıçdaroğlu unexpectedly lost the leadership by a narrow margin. Allegations that Özgür Özel and Ekrem İmamoğlu bought the votes of hundreds of delegates in exchange for money were taken to court. The article says an appellate court’s absolute nullity ruling confirmed those allegations.

It also says that, since returning to the leadership while pledging to rid CHP of “thieves and bribers,” Kılıçdaroğlu has overseen a transformation lasting three and a half months. Party organizations have been extensively renewed, while most lawmakers and mayors suspected of corruption were either referred to disciplinary bodies or resigned and moved to the New Party.

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I will cleanse CHP of thieves and bribers.