19.06.2026 22:20
Regarding the presidential candidacy debates, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he has not ruled out Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy. Kılıçdaroğlu, emphasizing that the candidate will be determined by party bodies, said, "It could be İmamoğlu or someone else. There are many potential candidates."
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was reinstated as the Chairman of the CHP by a decision of "absolute nullity," answered a question regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu's possible presidential candidacy. Kılıçdaroğlu said, "It could be İmamoğlu, or it could be someone else. There are many potential candidates."
ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, reinstated as the Chairman of the CHP by a decision of "absolute nullity," appeared before the public for the first time on Sözcü TV broadcast. Answering questions live, Kılıçdaroğlu made striking remarks regarding the presidential candidacy of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the suspended Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
"IS EKREM İMAMOĞLU YOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?"
Responding to the question posed live, "Is Ekrem İmamoğlu your presidential candidate?" Kılıçdaroğlu first expressed his criticisms of the current governance system.
"I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS REGIME"
Kılıçdaroğlu stated, "Why are we discussing this? I do not accept this system, this regime, this one-man regime. I became a candidate only because I had to. We want to change the Constitution."
"THE COMPETENT BODIES DETERMINE THE CANDIDATE IN CHP"
Emphasizing that the presidential candidate will be determined through democratic processes within the party, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Our candidate will be determined by the competent bodies when the time comes. This is not the AK Party or the MHP. In CHP, there is a culture of objection; everyone expresses their opinions, and the chairman listens until the end."
"IT COULD BE İMAMOĞLU, OR SOMEONE ELSE"
Not closing the door on İmamoğlu's candidacy, Kılıçdaroğlu conveyed the message that the CHP's presidential candidate has not yet been determined, saying, "It could be İmamoğlu, or it could be someone else. There are many potential candidates."
The statements were considered a notable move at a time when debates over the presidential candidacy in the CHP have flared up again.