TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan's 'CHP' assessment: 'From today onwards, there are two parties'

Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Turkish Communist Party (TKP), has offered a sharp assessment of the internal turmoil within the Republican People's Party (CHP). Okuyan declared that, following recent events, the CHP now exists as "two parties," a division he contends plays directly into the hands of the ruling AKP.

Okuyan criticized the ongoing disputes, stating they are not centered on substantive debates about national or global issues. Instead, he characterized the situation as a power struggle between factions led by Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. He expressed skepticism that a compromise between the two would be reached, predicting a difficult and time-consuming separation process.

“

From today onwards, there are two parties. The expectation that Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will reach an agreement through mutual concessions will likely not be realized.

He argued that the CHP's base is actively seeking a leader who can challenge the AKP's dominance. Okuyan suggested that even if Kılıçdaroğlu were to present a convincing case regarding corruption, he would struggle to win over the party's broader electorate. Conversely, he noted that a significant portion of the CHP's supporters are aligning behind Özgür Özel, dismissing Kılıçdaroğlu's efforts, as evidenced by the low turnout at a recent rally.

The TKP leader believes this internal division will invite further intervention from the government, which he thinks aims to weaken the main opposition by fostering this split. Okuyan also touched upon the broader left-wing movement in Turkey, suggesting that some believe the current political climate could foster a larger social movement. However, he cautioned against compromising revolutionary values for the sake of broad appeal, deeming it a significant error.

“

As we have said many times, there is no debate about world and homeland issues in the middle.