27.05.2026 13:40
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel responded to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s statements about the congress. Arguing that there is no legal obstacle to an extraordinary congress, Özel said, “The injunction does not prevent the congress. There is no barrier to holding a congress within 45 days, and there are three or four different ways to do it. As long as there is intent.” Özel also stated, “The CHP is shaped not by court rulings, but by the CHP itself.”
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel responded to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s statements regarding the congress after the “absolute nullity” decision led to Kılıçdaroğlu reclaiming the chairmanship. Özel stated that there is no legal obstacle to an extraordinary congress, saying, “As long as there is intent.”
Özel was reminded of Kılıçdaroğlu’s words, “There is a precautionary measure from the Court of Cassation,” and was asked, “He also mentioned the Court of Cassation’s precautionary measure regarding the extraordinary congress question, saying they would proceed with the congress process considering the legal process. He added, ‘If it were up to me, I would do it tomorrow.’ What is your response?”
“PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE IS NOT AN OBSTACLE TO THE CONGRESS”
The CHP leader stated that an ordinary or extraordinary congress is a new constitutive act, using the following expressions:
“An ordinary or extraordinary congress is a new constitutive act. Therefore, a precautionary measure does not prevent holding the congress. The issue is a matter of intent.”
“CHP IS SHAPED BY POLITICS, NOT COURT DECISIONS”
Özel emphasized the need to act together against any potential judicial intervention, saying, “Suppose we decide to hold a congress, but the AK Party judiciary obstructs it. Then let us stand together against that decision. CHP is not shaped by court decisions; CHP shapes itself. Politics shapes it.”
“THERE ARE 3-4 DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT WITHIN 45 DAYS”
Arguing that there is no legal obstacle to holding the congress within 45 days, Özel stated, “Moreover, there is no legal obstacle to holding the congress after 45 days; there are 3-4 different ways to do it. As long as there is intent.”
HE ALSO RESPONDED TO KILIÇDAROĞLU’S “POLICE INTERVENTION” REMARK
Özgür Özel was also asked about Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s comments on the police intervention at CHP headquarters: “How can deputies not be allowed inside? That place is the people’s party.”
Özel stated that he had met with Kılıçdaroğlu the day before the incident, saying, “We appointed two representatives each to determine a congress date. They were to meet and negotiate at 12:00 PM. However, those two individuals appointed by Mr. Kemal backed by mafia-like groups showed up at our party’s door at 7 AM.”
Özel noted that Kılıçdaroğlu claimed he did not send those individuals to the party in the morning, and asked, “When a negotiation was scheduled for 12 PM, is it a conciliatory attitude to have the party raided at 7 AM by a group that was both mafia-like and supportive of Erdoğan?”
“IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN VERY BAD SCENES”
Özel argued that the deputies did not request to enter individually, saying, “Those deputies did not request to enter alone; they wanted to enter with mafia-like groups. There was also a very angry crowd inside. If they had entered, it would have resulted in very bad scenes.”