12.02.2025 12:40
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç made statements regarding the investigation initiated with the allegation of "irregularities" related to the CHP congress. Minister Tunç stated that the allegations are crimes according to the political parties law, saying, "Certain allegations have been made regarding the CHP congress. Those who raised the allegations were members of the CHP. After Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu's statements, the investigation has completely come to the forefront."
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, after a tip-off made to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding "vote buying on the day of the congress" during the CHP congress held in Ankara, sent the documents to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with a decision of lack of jurisdiction, and an investigation was initiated in January 2024.
In the statement, it was reported that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Akif Hamzaçebi were summoned to testify as witnesses due to their statements made in the press and on social media regarding the incident subject to the investigation.
AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED BASED ON KILIÇDAROĞLU'S WORDS
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, who made a statement regarding the investigation, pointed to former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and CHP members, saying, "After the CHP congress, a number of allegations were raised. Those who raised the allegations were CHP members. When there was an application in Bursa, the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office sent the file to Ankara. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated this investigation in January. After Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu's statements in a television program, the investigation became a hot topic. Mr. Hamzaçebi also made a statement. They criticized the current administration for remaining silent regarding the allegations of impropriety. They said a response should be given."
"IF THERE IS SOLID EVIDENCE, THE INVESTIGATION WILL CONTINUE"
Referring to Article 112 of the Political Parties Law, Minister Tunç stated, "Not only Kılıçdaroğlu and Hamzaçebi, but many party members have voiced allegations of impropriety. When we look at Article 112 of the Political Parties Law, our legislation shows that such behaviors constitute a crime. In the face of this legislation, when these allegations are continuously published and certain claims are made by party members, the chief public prosecutor's office needs to evaluate these allegations. If solid evidence is obtained, the investigation will continue at this point, and the judiciary will make a decision."
WHAT DOES ARTICLE 112 COVER?
Article 112 of the Political Parties Law is a provision related to electoral fraud... Article 112 states that those who manipulate the voting process in pre-elections and elections for political party congresses, as well as for the selection of all kinds of party officials and substitutes, will be punished with imprisonment from 1 to 3 years.
If solid evidence is found regarding those who commit this crime, it constitutes a criminal investigation. The process related to the party congress requires a separate trial to determine whether the congress should be annulled.
KILIÇDAROĞLU HAD SAID "SILENCE IS CONSENT"
Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the current CHP administration regarding the allegations of 'impropriety' during a broadcast on KRT TV on the evening of February 7, Friday.
Stating that the party administration should be transparent and "make a clear and definite statement," Kılıçdaroğlu expressed, "If you are not doing it, silence is consent, which means there is something else here. If there is something, the party must definitely be cleansed of corruption," he said.
In response to a question about the suspicion of impropriety, he replied, "I have nothing in my hands."
ERDOĞAN'S STATEMENT ON IMPROPRIETY
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at his party's Manisa Provincial Congress on Saturday, February 1, stated, "They blamed Mr. Kemal for the elections and expelled him with a dubious congress."
CHP leader Özel, regarding Erdoğan's statements, said, "Erdoğan was saying outrageous things about the congress that Mr. Kemal attended. If we were to respond to the words of Mr. Erdoğan, who is trying to meddle in the affairs of a political party... Did we ever respond one day? Did Mr. Kemal ever respond to this? Is there a need to respond to this?"