18.07.2026 09:01
After the court's "absolute nullity" decision in the CHP, the convention calendar has begun to become clear. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's deputy Bülent Kuşoğlu stated that the convention process will start in September and must be completed by March at the latest, and regarding Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy, he said that at this stage, he should neither say "I will be a candidate" nor "I will not be a candidate."
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's deputy Bülent Kuşoğlu, who was appointed as the party chairman after the court's 'absolute nullity' decision in the CHP, made critical statements on Habertürk TV regarding the agenda. Touching on many topics from the new congress calendar to changes in the party organizations, Kuşoğlu also clarified claims about a new party and Kılıçdaroğlu's potential candidacy.
SEPTEMBER POINTED TO FOR THE CONGRESS Announcing that the congress process will be restarted as of September, Bülent Kuşoğlu used the following statements regarding the calendar and the need for change in organizations:
"We have a statement. We will start the congress process as of September. We will hold our congress as soon as possible. The reason I say 'as soon as possible' is this: While explaining the reason for absolute nullity earlier, I mentioned that the 38th Congress was canceled because it was not conducted in accordance with rules, procedures, and ethics. According to the court decision, we will revert to the period before the 38th Congress, and the elected administration from there will take over. Meanwhile, as you know, two extraordinary congresses and one ordinary congress were held until the absolute nullity decision was issued. The court does not count these and does not consider them valid. If we hold another one now, it won't work either. We just discussed it; the file has only recently been sent from the Regional Court of Appeals to the Court of Cassation. To ensure its validity, we say 'as soon as possible.' Lawyers will know this much better, but I believe it can be done in the upcoming December-February period, by March at the latest. I think it must be done. Because it is said that it cannot be done with the current staff and organizations. Therefore, we need to make changes in the organizations starting from the neighborhood delegates."
WILL KILIÇDAROĞLU RUN AGAIN? Responding to the question of whether Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will be a candidate for the party chairmanship again, Kuşoğlu drew attention to the strategic situation in politics and stated:
"In politics, if a party chairman says 'I will not be a candidate,' the search for alternatives begins immediately. Then you cannot manage. Right now, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu should say neither 'I will be a candidate' nor 'I will not be a candidate.' When the time comes, we will go to the congress. He knows very well when to leave politics. But saying either of these things now has its drawbacks."
"THE REASON FOR ABSOLUTE NULLITY IS THOSE WHO SOLD AND BOUGHT THE PARTY" Describing the transfer of the court file to the Court of Cassation as a "normal legal procedure," Kuşoğlu claimed that the reason for the "absolute nullity" decision was the purchase of delegate votes with money. Regarding the issue, Kuşoğlu asserted, "The reason for absolute nullity is those who sold and bought the party."
Arguing that going to the congress with the current party administration and organizational structure would not be appropriate, Kuşoğlu stated that the change would start from the neighborhood delegates. Rejecting the assessments that there is a public backlash against Kılıçdaroğlu, Kuşoğlu alleged that the negative perception on social media is created through "professional and technological manipulations."
DENIAL OF NEW PARTY CLAIMS: NO ONE LEAVES THE CHP Addressing the rumors of splits within the CHP and the formation of a new political party, Kuşoğlu argued that the majority of MPs and mayors will remain in the party. Stating clearly, Kuşoğlu said, "The Republican People's Party is a 103-year-old party, a brand. No one leaves this place."
Stating that a "purification process" will take place in the party, Kuşoğlu expressed that this process should cover not only the organizations but also CHP-run municipalities.