Dissident CHP Deputy Tarhan Resigns From Her Party

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ankara deputy Emine Ülker Tarhan, who is known for her dissenting stance against the CHP management, announced her resignation from the party on Friday.

Tarhan, in a written statement on Friday, stated that she is resigning from the CHP, which she first joined with high expectations, in order not to be a part of the wrong and weak policies sought by the main opposition party -- which has no hope or aim to be the ruling party. She also said she understands that the CHP management will not give up its oppositional stance that does not comply with the sensitiveness of the Turkish nation. Nor will it give up its vague policies, contradictory statements and irresponsible demands during such a critical period when Turkey is being shaken by work accidents , terrorist murders, and internal and external threats, she said.

She was among the CHP deputies who demanded an extraordinary congress be held by the party in order to change its leader and management following CHP candidate Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu's loss to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the presidential election. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was re-elected in the party's extraordinary congress that was held in early September, disappointing those dissenters within the CHP.

In early October, in a controversial tweet that was later revealed not to have been written by Tarhan, her Twitter handle sent out the following message: “I am resigning from my party because of its attitude regarding the separatist terrorist PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] organization. The mindset of İnönü [Turkey's second president] is still alive. I will go back to my party the day it becomes Atatürk's party again. In a country where not liking Atatürk is considered to be part of people's rights, it is also the most natural right not to like Kurds."

Her Twitter account had been hacked and the tweet was posted, falsely announcing her resignation at the time. (Cihan/Today’s Zaman)