New party statute should be revolutionary and democratic, says columnist

An opinion piece published in Cumhuriyet argues for the adoption of a "revolutionary and democratic statute" for a new political party being formed in Turkey, spearheaded by Özgür Özel.

The author, identified as lawyer M. Ziya Yergök, a former head of the Adana Bar Association and former provincial head of several political parties, emphasizes that political parties must be democratic internally to effectively promote democracy in the country. He points to Özgür Özel's leadership within the CHP, citing the primary election that selected Ekrem İmamoğlu as a presidential candidate and the subsequent party congresses, as examples of democratic processes.

Yergök proposes concrete changes for the new party's statute: general assembly members and presidential candidates, as well as parliamentary, mayoral, municipal council, and provincial general assembly candidates, should all be determined through primary elections. He insists on no exceptions, no central polling, and no reserved quotas, stating these rules should be explicitly written into the statute. This approach, he believes, would resonate strongly with the public and further elevate Özel's standing.

Such a move, according to the author, would represent a revolutionary and democratic leap, significantly contributing to the democratization and normalization of Turkish politics. It would also challenge what he terms the "absolute invalidity" management that struggles to connect with the voter base. The piece concludes by stating that if the new party prioritizes a strong parliamentary democracy, judicial independence, and a social state built on fair income and tax distribution, and crowns these with these democratic statutory reforms, it could become the strongest contender for power and win the next election.