31.05.2026 20:50
After the court's 'absolute nullity' decision for the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP, Gürsel Tekin, whose term as Istanbul Provincial Chair, to which he was appointed as a trustee, ended, stated in his remarks about the congress debates that all 196 delegates from Istanbul were subject to precautionary measures by court order, and argued that 163 delegates' names were included in investigation files, saying, "How healthy, how inclusive, and how uncontroversial can a congress held under these conditions be?"
There has been a striking statement from Gürsel Tekin, whose term as the appointed trustee for the CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate ended after the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Appeals (BAM) ruled ‘absolute nullity’ in the lawsuit seeking the annulment of the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held on November 4-5, 2023.
“HOW HEALTHY CAN A CONGRESS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS BE?”
In his statement regarding the congress debates within the party, Tekin argued that court-ordered measures have been applied to all 196 delegates from Istanbul, that the names of 163 delegates appear in investigation files, and suggested that a congress held under these conditions cannot be healthy.
In a statement on social media, Tekin said, “Dear CHP members, court-ordered measures have been applied to all 196 delegates from Istanbul. Additionally, 44 delegates are under arrest, 21 delegates have switched to the AK Party, 5 delegates have resigned, 14 delegates have been expelled, and the names of 163 delegates appear in investigation files. With such a serious situation, the legitimacy and representative power of the delegation have become seriously questionable. I ask: How healthy, how inclusive, and how uncontroversial can a congress under these conditions be?”
ÖZEL’S FRONT INITIATES PROCESS FOR EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS
Meanwhile, Zeynel Emre, a close associate of Özgür Özel, who was removed from his position as CHP Chairman by court order, announced that they will begin collecting signatures from delegates starting tomorrow to convene an extraordinary congress.
Emre, recalling that it had been previously announced that the signature process would begin if no statement regarding the congress date came from Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s front during the holiday, stated that the process would start tomorrow.
Emre, arguing that they would secure the necessary support for the congress, said, “We will collect the signatures of all authorized delegates in accordance with the court’s decision.”
“A PARTY EXCEEDING 6 YEARS CANNOT ENTER ELECTIONS”
Zeynel Emre also noted that the congress of November 4-5, 2023, and subsequent congresses were annulled by the court, making the valid last congress of the CHP the one held in July 2020.
Drawing attention to the Political Parties Law and party regulations, Emre stated that congresses must be held at least every three years. Emre commented, “If this period exceeds six years, the political party cannot enter elections. This is a very clear situation.”
Emre, claiming that the six-year period will expire as of July 2026, argued that the CHP must initiate the congress process without delay for this reason.
“WE WILL GIVE EVERY KIND OF FIGHT”
Emre, harshly criticizing the ongoing process, said, “This is an operation to collapse the Republican People's Party and erase it from history. Anyone who does not call for elections immediately, make decisions in this direction, and show will, will be responsible for this.”
Stating that the CHP will wage a political, legal, and democratic struggle against these initiatives, Emre said they will continue to be in the squares and on the streets.
Emre said, “We will give every kind of political, legal, and physical fight. We will go to the squares, organize rallies, and hold marches. We will go street by street and tell citizens the truth.”