08.06.2026 17:01
CHP Tekirdağ Deputy Faik Öztrak criticized Özgür Özel and his team, stating that "a party with a history spanning more than a century should be managed with transparency and accountability, not with word games." Öztrak said, "Organizing a snap closed group meeting to have yourself elected as group chairman is recognizing the nullity decision you claimed not to recognize and accepting that you are no longer the party leader."
CHP Tekirdağ Deputy Faik Öztrak stated that "a parallel headquarters has been established in Parliament."
Öztrak, at a press conference in Parliament, stated that following the court's "absolute nullity" decision against CHP, the party's chairman is Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. "To avoid further judicial intervention in our party and to start our march towards power as soon as possible, we need to resolve problems through consultation within our own ranks with the current administration," said Öztrak, expressing that "the mistakes made by Özgür Özel's administration after 2024 have also significantly contributed to the difficult process CHP is going through."
Öztrak said that despite CHP being the first party in the last local elections, the party administration initiated a normalization process with the government instead of immediately calling for early elections, that Özel and his administration pursued a polarization policy after taking office, and that the party was mismanaged and alienated.
"CHP IS NOT ANYONE'S FATHER'S SHOP"
Stating that a party with a history spanning over a century should be managed with transparency and accountability, not word games, Öztrak said, "We saw the consequences of not doing this in Manavgat and Uşak. Municipal mayors were initially supported, but then had to be referred to the disciplinary board with a request for expulsion. CHP is everyone's parental home, but it is not anyone's father's shop. The administration of that period made denying allegations regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor the sole agenda of our party. This caused us to overlook our people's poverty, unemployment, cost of living, and exclusion."
HARSH WORDS AIMED
Öztrak stated that the CHP administration reaching a point where it could be removed by a judicial decision would upset everyone under the party's roof, but the allegations in question cannot be ignored, and said:
"Those who say 'The court says this, the previous administration says that' will also be asked, what will we do about the confessions of your closest associates that an operation was conducted to buy the delegate's will at the congress? Where will we put the allegations that material benefits were provided to delegates using public power to corrupt their will, and that jobs were promised in CHP municipalities? Will we ignore the 'fraud in elections and votes' deemed established by the court? Do those who involved themselves in these matters, making the party vulnerable to judicial intervention, bear no guilt in the nullity occurring? Do those who, unable to dismiss rumors that Atatürk's party would be shut down, tried to form an alternative party, have no responsibility? Is this how we will defend our century-old plane tree, our parental home? I am watching with dismay how those who cannot give up their positions and titles are now trying to destroy the party by forming a parallel headquarters in Parliament. Organizing a closed group meeting and getting yourself elected as group leader means recognizing the nullity decision you said you 'don't recognize' and accepting that you are no longer the chairman."
"TOMORROW'S GROUP MEETING SHOULD BE A TURNING POINT"
Öztrak said that the "absolute nullity" decision and the events immediately following it have caused confusion, but it is becoming clear what and which approaches are harming CHP's institutional identity. "It is time to act with common sense without turning a blind eye to what we see. In this context, I believe that tomorrow's group meeting should be a turning point in ensuring our party's unity and solidarity."
"GROUP LEADER MUST COMPLY WITH WHAT THE CHAIRMAN SAYS"
Öztrak, responding to journalists' questions after his speech, was asked about the course of action if both Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel want to speak at tomorrow's CHP TBMM Group Meeting. He replied, "The regulations are clear. It says, 'The Group Leader works under the Chairman.' If this is the regulation, the Group Leader must comply with what the Chairman says."
"MPs ARE NOT COUNTED IN OPEN GROUP MEETINGS"
Regarding the question of whether the approval of the required 46 MPs for the group meeting will be obtained, Öztrak said, "This is an open group meeting, not a closed group meeting. MPs are not counted in open group meetings, but there are more than 46."
When asked, "Will there be an expulsion list for MPs who do not attend the group meeting held by Kılıçdaroğlu?", Öztrak said, "The Chairman of CHP is Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. What do you mean by not attending the group meeting? That cannot happen."