Claim from Kılıçdaroğlu after absolute nullity: CHP members are returning to the party as they see the facts.

06.11.2026 10:31

CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu argued in an interview with Milliyet newspaper that the reaction after the absolute nullity ruling had decreased and that a segment that had left the party had begun to return. Kılıçdaroğlu, saying that they did not consider sending troops to Yemen right, emphasized that the party congress would be held and that CHP did not have an election threshold problem.

(ANKARA) -

CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, stating that the reactions that emerged after the absolute nullity decision had begun to decrease, said, "Over time, as the facts emerge, returns begin. In other words, as CHP members see the events and see the facts, they have begun to return to the CHP. After the final invalidity decision, there was also a great reaction in the public. That reaction, to a large extent, began to decrease by itself as the facts emerged and were explained."

CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke to Milliyet Newspaper. Kılıçdaroğlu, who made assessments on the Mecca Agreement, the latest situation in the CHP and the Terror-Free Turkey agenda, said that they support the state, not the government.   

When asked about the justification for voting yes to the Mecca Agreement, Kılıçdaroğlu used the following statements: "We voiced the establishment of the Organization for Middle East Peace and Cooperation (OBİT) four or five years ago. If Turkey is confined to its own narrow borders, it cannot become a regional power. Turkey must be a regional power. If you avoid these agreements, which are also in the interest of every country, and say, 'No, I will withdraw to my own borders and stay here,' you cannot be a game-setter. It means you do not understand the new world order. It means you are keeping Turkey away from the new world order."

HE OPPOSED SENDING SOLDIERS TO YEMEN

Kılıçdaroğlu, saying that the claims that soldiers would be sent to Yemen were not true, said, "No, there is no such thing. I also met with the Yemeni Foreign Minister via Zoom and told them as well. We do not want to go there to fight; on the contrary, we want to bring peace and tranquility to the region." To the question "What if there is a parliamentary motion to send soldiers?" Kılıçdaroğlu responded, "No, we do not find sending soldiers right. They go to train the soldiers of foreign countries, but not to fight. The blood of Turkish soldiers cannot be put on the negotiating table."

Also responding to the criticism that "he supports the government," Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We do not support the government. We support the State of the Republic of Turkey."

QUESTION OF A DEADLOCK IN THE TERROR-FREE TURKEY PROCESS

Upon the question "Has there been a deadlock in the Terror-Free Turkey Process?" Kılıçdaroğlu assessed, "There should not be. If there is a deadlock, the responsible party is the PKK. Turkey, the parliament, did what it could on this issue. Important steps were taken toward resolving the problem. If the weapons are fully surrendered, if the surrender of weapons is carried out fully in line with the existing consensus, I do not think an issue will remain. The matter is not a political party matter. The matter is a matter of the State of the Republic of Turkey. Joint decisions were taken in parliament. Based on these decisions, authority was given to the state bureaucracy... One should not worry too much about the process taking a little longer. The whole point is this: rather than it deteriorating, let the process take a little longer, but as long as this problem is resolved."

Also answering the question regarding the absolute nullity decision that is at the Court of Cassation stage, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he did not know the details of the legal process and said, "To speak frankly, I know the legal process only in terms of its results. I do not know its content very much. The Court of Cassation needs to make a decision. We do not know when that decision will be made."

CONGRESS AND COURT OF CASSATION DECISION

While answering the question about whether there is a risk that the CHP cannot enter the election if the Court of Cassation decision is awaited for the congress and the decision does not come out, Kılıçdaroğlu said there was no such risk. Emphasizing that the congress would be held, Kılıçdaroğlu spoke as follows:

"We will hold the congress. Why shouldn't we? We will hold it. The calendar was announced and declared. The whole point is this: if the Court of Cassation decision comes out, it will be easier for us. There will be no ground for a legal debate, and therefore we will do it and go."

Stating that the CHP did not have an election threshold problem and that he had no concern about this issue, Kılıçdaroğlu noted the following:

"The CHP has a strong base and a strong ideology. Therefore, I do not carry such a concern. We already see this at the base as well. We see it slowly. There was this concern at one time, true. In fact, our base also sees and knows what an injustice the CHP has suffered in this process.

CLAIM OF RETURNS AMONG THE CHP BASE

This is a fact: along with the split, we already know that a group from the party base went to the other side. But over time, as the facts emerge, returns begin. In other words, as CHP members see the events and see the facts, they have begun to return to the CHP.

We have come to after the final invalidity decision, and today we are at a very different point. When it first happened, there was also a great reaction in the public. That reaction, to a large extent, began to decrease by itself as the facts emerged and were explained. After a while, this reaction will completely disappear. Because we are right. We are not pursuing personal interest. We will never, ever harbor within ourselves the elements that pollute the party."

Saying that it was not right to discuss the CHP's presidential candidate starting today, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Our concern is the people. They are truly in a miserable state. Those who make the presidential candidacy a topic of discussion starting today want to tear Turkey away from its own realities, and this serves the political government. We will not fall into this trap. The day and time will come, and we will sit down and determine our candidate."

Kılıçdaroğlu, who also made assessments regarding the period when the YENi Party - CHP split occurred, used the following statements: "A proposal even came in the form that the friends should not leave and that Mr. Özgür's chairmanship should continue. I did not reject this proposal either. But they left, friends. I do not know why they left. First, I would like to carefully underline that."