10.06.2026 17:21
DSP General Chairman Önder Aksakal announced that CHP Deputy Group Chairman Murat Emir proposed joining the DSP collectively under Özgür Özel's leadership and taking over the administration at the congress, but they rejected this proposal on the grounds that it would harm the DSP's clean political history. Aksakal said, "We strongly opposed this. The DSP name cannot ever come together with individuals associated with negativity, legal troubles, theft, corruption, or bid-rigging."
DSP Chairman Önder Aksakal stated that during a meeting between CHP Deputy Group Chair Murat Emir and his party's deputy chair, Emir proposed, "Let us join the DSP as a whole under the leadership of Özgür Özel." Aksakal added, "The DSP name is fraught with negativity, legally problematic, and cannot ever be associated with individuals involved in theft, corruption, bid rigging, lifestyles contrary to certain social moral values, or those implicated in monetary and financial dealings in mayoral elections and candidate selection processes."
ÖNDER AKSAKAL'S STATEMENT ON CHP
DSP Chairman Önder Aksakal held a press conference at the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Reminding of the legal and political processes concerning the CHP, Aksakal said, "At this point, we are faced with a heartbreaking and deeply shaking tableau in Turkish politics. A period of interregnum is being experienced where founding values are being cast aside and hopes are fading. From this podium, I declare: We can never allow the toppling of the deep-rooted sycamores of the Republic or the destruction of the hopes growing in their shade. However, there is another truth at hand. Everyone must see that the CHP needs to overcome this sad situation it is experiencing and causing, through its own genuine will."
Aksakal also invited members of parliament, mayors, and local administrators who have issues with the current CHP administration to join his party.
"THEY WANTED TO JOIN US"
Speaking about the meeting between CHP Deputy Group Chair Murat Emir and one of the party's deputy chairs, Aksakal stated, "The CHP is internally divided both ideologically and in terms of its base. We all observed this physically coming to life in yesterday's group meeting. We saw it was implemented through a bad method. The chairperson, who had to leave office after a nullity lawsuit, and his close associates realized that this situation could not continue and began seeking different paths among themselves. Among these options, the idea emerged that it would be right to negotiate with the DSP. While they were seeking how to establish contact, one of them mentioned that he knew one of our deputy chairs well. They assigned this task to Mr. Murat Emir to conduct the meeting. Mr. Murat called our colleague, requested an appointment, and they held a one-on-one meeting in our colleague's office. During this meeting, while evaluating Turkey's and the CHP's political situation, Mr. Murat asked, 'When will the DSP's congress be convened?' When our colleague said, 'We plan to hold it in the upcoming autumn months, one of October, November, or December,' Emir asked, 'How about we join the DSP as a whole under the leadership of Özgür Özel, and what do you think of us taking over the administration at the congress?' Our colleague stated that he had no authority to give an answer on this matter."
"THEY STRONGLY OPPOSED IT"
Aksakal noted that this request was brought up during the Board meeting, stating, "Everyone at the meeting strongly opposed it, just as I did. The DSP name is fraught with negativity, legally problematic, and cannot ever be associated with individuals involved in theft, corruption, bid rigging, lifestyles contrary to certain social moral values, or those implicated in monetary and financial dealings in mayoral elections and candidate selection processes. We stated that a political party that has remained clean and honest for 41 years cannot, at this stage, enter into such relationships solely for the purpose of gaining power or being stronger in parliament."
Aksakal also said that the deputy chair who met with Emir has resigned from the party and was referred to the DSP Central Disciplinary Board as of yesterday for definitive expulsion.