24.03.2026 14:20
A surprising development occurred before today's CHP group meeting. Emine Ülker Tarhan, the former Deputy Group Chair and Ankara MP who resigned in 2014 to establish the Anatolian Party but dissolved it after receiving only 0.06% of the votes in elections, returned to CHP after 12 years. Tarhan, who was personally presented with the badge by the party leader Özgür Özel, said her first words were, "I heard diesel is 80 TL, so I came."
The development that occurred before the CHP's group meeting resonated widely in Ankara's political circles. Emine Ülker Tarhan, who resigned from the party in 2014, has rejoined the ranks of the CHP. Tarhan entered the group meeting hall together with Muharrem İnce.
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel announced before his party's group speech that Emine Ülker Tarhan, a former Group Deputy Chairman and founder of YARSAV, has rejoined the CHP.
EMINE ÜLKER TARHAN BACK IN CHP
Özel stated that Emine Ülker Tarhan, one of the prominent figures in Turkish politics and the legal world, has returned to her party, which she described as her "family home." Özel announced Tarhan's return by entering the hall with former group deputy chairmen Muharrem İnce and Emine Ülker Tarhan.
Sharing details about Emine Ülker Tarhan's return to the party, Özel noted that this decision was shaped by the encouragement of Muharrem İnce and his personal invitation. Announcing Tarhan to the party members in the hall, Özel said, "A respected politician and lawyer who has provided great services to our party is returning to her family home today."
Özel recalled that he served as a deputy in the 24th term alongside Tarhan and that he held the position of group deputy chairman in the party, inviting Tarhan to the podium with the words, "Welcome, Mr. President." Özel personally pinned the party badge on Tarhan.
"YOU CALLED, I CAME"
Emine Ülker Tarhan, who took the CHP group podium after years, humorously began her speech by saying, "I heard diesel is 80 lira, so I came." Tarhan explained her reason for returning as "to lend a shoulder," addressing both Turkey's economic realities and global political crises. Highlighting the conflicts and humanitarian dramas around the world, Tarhan stated, "They say the first truths die in war; they lied; the first children died," emphasizing that women cannot be liberated with bombs and that the voice of the people cannot be stolen. Criticizing the global powers' "democratic crusades" and their dreams of appointing a "president" for every country, Tarhan emphasized the rule of law.
Expressing that a determined stance against despotism is necessary, Emine Ülker Tarhan noted that history can sometimes be destructive, but those who do not bow can change this flow. Tarhan said, "We know that it is necessary to lend a shoulder to those who sweat to change things, not to push them away. Because sooner or later, we believe that these dried lands need to be greened again." Stating, "We have seen fire and betrayal," Tarhan expressed that Turkey is going through a difficult process and saluted the party members as she left the podium, saying, "You called, I came. Thank you."
HEADLINES FROM TARHAN'S SPEECH
The full text of Tarhan's speech is as follows: "I heard diesel is 80 lira, so I came! Time has passed. The young have grown, and we have aged. Fortunately, we have not yet lost our ability to be angry in the face of the weight of what has happened. There are many questions we know the answers to, but our bodies cannot bear them, a pile of questions. They say, 'The first truths die in war,' they lied; the first children died. Until someone decides that all these deaths, the deaths of tiny schoolgirls are enough, how many more children will die, we do not know. We do not know when they will stop dreaming of the umpteenth democratic crusade. We do not know when they will stop dreaming of appointing a president for every country and turning that country into a large prison filled with well-behaved convicts. We do not know when the rule of law and human freedom will come to the fore. Most importantly, we do not know how much they will sell us black market peace when this war is over. But we know this, we know very well: Life is full of surprises. Even for those despots who think they are spiritual police chiefs. History can sometimes be destructive. Because those who do not bow can change history. We also know that it is necessary to lend a shoulder to those who sweat to change things, to those who sweat everywhere, to those who stand against the repetition of history. Because sooner or later, we believe that these dried lands need to be greened again.
We have seen fire and betrayal in this terribly beautiful country that caresses all our faces, as the poet said. We have seen this. In fact, the hands that carry it would never touch us, but you know that only one rose would hurt us, anyway. I say "yes" to living the honor and pain of being born here, but living it together. The best way to erase a consciousness is to force it to remember with the memory of others and to make it forget. I say "no" to the erasure of our memory and to forgetting. We will not forget. Because in these lands, we do not just bury our dead; we also keep them alive. You called, I came. Thank you."
WHO IS EMINE ÜLKER TARHAN?
Emine Ülker Tarhan was born on November 29, 1963, in the Tarsus district of Mersin. Her father, a Cretan immigrant, is named Ali, and her mother's name is Halise. During her high school years, she became a licensed handball and basketball player. She started her studies at Ankara University Faculty of Law in 1981 and graduated in 1986.
HER POLITICAL CAREER
Tarhan worked as a freelance lawyer for a while and then served as a public attorney. In 1994, she transitioned to the judiciary and continued her duties, which began in İslahiye, in various places in Turkey. From 2001 to 2011, she worked as a rapporteur judge in the 4th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. In 2007, her book titled "Crimes of Insult and Threat" was published. She became a founding member of the Judges and Prosecutors Union (YARSAV) and served as the General Secretary and President from November 15, 2009, to March 10, 2011.
Tarhan resigned from her position as a judge and the presidency of YARSAV in 2011 to become a candidate for parliament. She was elected as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) for the 24th term from Ankara in the June 12, 2011 elections. She served as the CHP Group Deputy Chairman from June 29, 2011, to June 26, 2013. In 2014, her book titled "The Only Thing That Can Silence Me" was published. After Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu was made the joint candidate of the CHP and MHP in the 2014 Turkish presidential election, she criticized the CHP leadership and resigned from the party on October 31, 2014. Two weeks later, on November 14, 2014, she founded the Anatolian Party. The party was dissolved on December 12, 2015, after receiving 0.06% of the votes in the June 2015 elections.
HER PERSONAL LIFE
During her student years, she married her classmate Mehmet Umur Tarhan.
He had two children from this marriage.