Kılıçdaroğlu presents badges amid controversy over 'extras' and existing members

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, recently appointed to the Republican People's Party (CHP) General Headquarters by judicial decision, presented membership badges to new members during a ceremony organized by the CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate. The event, held at the Rauf Denktaş Culture Center, became a focal point for renewed controversy surrounding the party's membership practices.

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CHP is a party that must cleanse itself.

Notably, one of the individuals receiving a badge, Şengül Yılmaz, was identified as a former CHP Istanbul provincial deputy candidate, a member of the CHP General Headquarters Sports Committee, and an active participant in party affairs for many years. This detail fueled discussions, particularly following earlier allegations of using "extras" at party events.

These "extras" claims, previously reported by BirGün reporter Ebru Çelik, suggested that hundreds of people were brought to similar ceremonies with promises of payment, around 950 Turkish Lira each, from various casting agencies. Reports indicated that attendees were coached on slogans like "The people's hope Kılıçdaroğlu" and "Justice, law, justice," with approximately 50 individuals allegedly given CHP Youth Branch vests.

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The Republican People's Party is the party of the future. It is one of the parties that has stood for over 100 years in the world. It is not a contaminated party. It is a party that must cleanse itself. Fortunately, that has also largely been achieved.

Adding to the day's controversies were sharp remarks made by Gürsel Tekin, who is currently leading the CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate following the court ruling. Social media widely circulated footage of Tekin expressing frustration with event staff, asking, "What are these friends doing here?" and instructing them to remove individuals. He was also heard questioning the whereabouts of the badges during the ceremony.

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What are these friends doing here? Barış, I will really teach you a lesson. Remove the friends.

During the event, Kılıçdaroğlu himself commented on the party's state, describing the CHP as a party that "must cleanse itself." He asserted that the CHP is a "party of the future," one of the few parties globally to have existed for over a century, and that it is "not a contaminated party." He added, "Fortunately, that has also largely been achieved." These statements, however, have drawn criticism.

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Children, where are the badges?...