27.06.2026 11:44
The leadership crisis spilling from courthouse corridors in the CHP led to a tragicomic scene that will go down in Turkish political history at the funeral of former deputy Orhan Sür. When the condolence wreaths of Özgür Özel, elected by congress delegates, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to his seat by court decision, stood side by side in the mosque courtyard, a controversial situation emerged. Two separate wreaths bearing the same party emblem and reading "CHP Chairman" formalized the dual-leadership crisis within the party.
The title crisis within the party marked the funeral of deceased former CHP deputy Orhan Sür in Balıkesir. In the CHP, where "dual leadership" debates have arisen due to court decisions, two separate wreaths sent on behalf of both Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, each inscribed with "CHP Chairman," were placed side by side at the ceremony area.
The authority and title disputes arising from court processes regarding convention decisions in the Republican People's Party (CHP) surfaced once again during a somber ceremony. Orhan Sür, the 22nd-term CHP Balıkesir deputy who passed away, was bid farewell in his hometown of Balıkesir at a ceremony with heavy military and political attendance. However, a detail captured by cameras at the funeral revealed the extent of the leadership crisis within the party.
TWO WREATHS INSCRIBED WITH "CHP CHAIRMAN" SIDE BY SIDE
During the acceptance of condolences at the historic Zağnos Paşa Mosque courtyard, a shocking scene emerged in the area where the sent wreaths were placed. The fact that two separate wreaths sent by the party's elected leader Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was reinstated by a court decision, both bore the title "CHP Chairman," caused whispers and astonishment among the funeral attendees. Two wreaths from a single party, with the same title, stood side by side.
BALIKESIR PROTOCOL AND ORGANIZATION ATTENDED IN FULL FORCE
The funeral prayer of the deceased Orhan Sür, whose body wrapped in the Turkish flag was brought to the mosque courtyard, was led by Balıkesir Provincial Mufti Hasan Hayri Yaşar. The ceremony brought together political, bureaucratic, and local government elements. The funeral was attended by Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu, CHP Balıkesir Deputy Serkan Sarı, Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Murat Karakoyun, Metropolitan Municipality General Secretary Naki Çetin, CHP Balıkesir Provincial Chair Erden Köybaşı, along with Karesi Mayor Mesut Akbıyık, Edremit Mayor Mehmet Ertaş, Burhaniye Mayor Ali Kemal Deveciler, and Altıeylül Mayor Hakan Şehirli.
Following the ceremony, where many party members and citizens accompanied with prayers, Orhan Sür's body was laid to rest at Başçeşme Cemetery after the noon prayer.
AFTER THE HANDSHAKE IN ANKARA, THE "TITLE" CRISIS IN THE PROVINCES
The atmosphere of détente created by Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who came together and shook hands at the first ceremony under the roof of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara a few days ago, gave way to the cold face of legal and political rivalry with the insistence on the "title" in the official wreaths sent to the funeral area in Balıkesir. According to information leaked to the backstage, it appears that the teams of both leaders have not backed down regarding the use of the title in official protocol correspondence and wreath orders.