06.06.2026 18:30
Lütfi Savaş, the former Mayor of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality who filed the lawsuit regarding CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress that the court annulled with a verdict of absolute nullity, visited CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Speaking about the visit, Savaş said, "If I am offered a role that I believe I can fulfill in the party, I would accept it. But I am in no hurry about this."
Former Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Lütfü Savaş, who filed the lawsuit following the court's decision of "absolute nullity" regarding CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention, visited CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Savaş spoke about the meeting, which took place at Kılıçdaroğlu's office at CHP headquarters last evening.
"A ROUTINE VISIT"
Savaş, stating that he occasionally meets with Kılıçdaroğlu and that this meeting was a "routine visit," said, "We did not file the lawsuit to blame individuals, we filed it to ensure the sense of justice within our party is not damaged."
WILL HE WITHDRAW THE APPEAL?
Savaş, noting that the appeal to the Court of Cassation was not discussed during the meeting, stated, "If Kemal Bey and Özgür Bey agree and say 'withdraw the appeal,' we will comply with that common opinion. We are open to consultation; it would not be right for me to decide alone from now on."
Savaş, expressing that he does not find the police intervention against CHP appropriate, and that no one would want the police to intervene in their party or damage the headquarters, said, "I wish the incident had not reached the police; this saddened us. I believe the law must be followed. But I do not see the issue from only one side. There were unpleasant actions from both Kemal Bey and Özgür Bey's sides. Both sides could have prevented what happened."
"I WOULD ACCEPT IF GIVEN A DUTY"
Savaş, stating that he does not consider it right to request a duty from the party but would not refuse if one is offered, said, "If I am given a duty that I believe I can fulfill in the party, I would accept it. But I am in no hurry. There are things the Chairman and party bodies need to do, and it would be more appropriate for them to focus on that."
WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Lütfü Savaş, who lost the March 31, 2024 Hatay Metropolitan municipal elections, made a statement on his social media account after the appointment of a trustee to Esenyurt Municipality, saying, "Today's CHP is busy becoming like DEM... We cannot defend those who exploit terrorism for political gain."
Following this post, on November 3, 2024, Savaş was referred to the High Disciplinary Board (YDK) for "contributing to actions contrary to the party's representation principles" with a request for definitive expulsion, and on December 11, 2024, he was unanimously expelled from CHP by the YDK.
After the expulsion, Savaş applied to the court claiming that the 38th Ordinary Convention was tainted by "irregularities." On February 15, 2025, Savaş filed a lawsuit at the Ankara 31st Civil Court of First Instance for the annulment of CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention, held on November 4-5, 2023, where Özgür Özel was elected chairman. Following Savaş, similar lawsuits filed by some convention delegates on the same matter were consolidated at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance. On October 24, 2025, the court dismissed the lawsuit entirely, ruling it moot. After the court's decision, Savaş's lawyers appealed, and the Ankara Regional Court of Appeal (BAM) 36th Civil Chamber annulled the convention due to absolute nullity.