07.04.2025 14:10
In the 21st Extraordinary Congress of the CHP, Özgür Özel, who was re-elected as the party's chairman, made history as the first chairman since İsmet İnönü to not lose any candidates from his list. The candidates supported by Özel achieved a decisive majority in the Party Assembly list, effectively erasing the traces of Kılıçdaroğlu.
With the decision taken against the risk of appointing a trustee to the party, the 21st Extraordinary Congress was held. Özel, who entered the presidential election as the sole candidate in the congress that lasted 17 hours, was re-elected with 1,171 votes. In the Party Council election, Özel's entire key list received approval from the delegates.
KILIÇDAROĞLU'S TRACE HAS BEEN ERASED
The list composed of nationalists and close associates of Kılıçdaroğlu did not receive support from the delegates. In the ordinary congress, the Balance and Solidarity List prepared by the group led by CHP Istanbul Deputy Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, who opened 11 gaps in Özgür Özel's PM list, was unsuccessful this time. The 21st Extraordinary Congress of the CHP brought about a profound change not only at the leadership level but also in all cadres. With the Party Council elections, Özgür Özel significantly ended Kılıçdaroğlu's legacy in the party management.
"HEAVY HITTERS" DID NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH SUPPORT
Very few of the 60 members who entered the Party Council as a result of the congress were influential figures from the Kılıçdaroğlu era. These individuals were those who supported the change after Özel's election. Many 'heavy hitters' did not receive sufficient support from the delegates. Instead, young and innovative figures representing the reformist line led by Özel came in.
A FIRST AFTER İNÖNÜ
Özgür Özel, who became the second party leader in history not to have his list scratched after İsmet İnönü, stated after the results, "This cadre change will strengthen our claim to be the voice of the people. We are looking to the future, not the past," which was another notable aspect of the congress.
HERE IS ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S A TEAM
The 52 PM members referred to as CHP's A team, in an unofficial and quota-applied form, consisted of the following names: "Deniz Yavuzyılmaz, Suat Özçağdaş, Mahmut Tanal, Gül Çiftci, Ensar Aytekin, Hikmet Erbilgin, Gamze Taşcıer, Ali Abbas Ertürk, Canan Taşer, Mahir Yüksel, Namık Tan, Turgay Özcan, Selin Sayek Böke, Özgür Karabat, Berkay Gezgin, Erhan Adem, Baki Aydöner, Semra Dinçer, Saniye Barut, Deniz Yücel, Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu, Ozan Işık, Ali Haydar Hakverdi, Yalçın Görgöz, Burhanettin Bulut, Ali Haydar Fırat, Murat Bakan, Melisa Uğraş, Pınar Uzun Okakın, Ulaş Karasu, Bedirhan Berk Doğru, Hikmet Yalım Halıcı, Nazan Güneysu, Burcu Mazıcıoğlu, Mehmet Necati Yağcı, Zeliha Aksaz Şahbaz, İsmail Atakan Ünver, Ecevit Keleş, Mustafa Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Berna Özgül, Şengül Yeşildal, Mehmet Alkın Denizaslanı, Gökan Zeybek, Uğurcan İrak, Özgür Ceylan, Sinem Kırçiçek, Sevgi Kılıç, Engin Özkoç, Niyazi Şen, Aylin Nazlıaka, Ahmet Hakan Uyanık, Uygar Parçal."
CRITICISMS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE OPENING SPEECH
On the other hand, Özel, who made the opening speech at the congress, reacted to the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu by saying, "My brave lion who is lying in Silivri, hello to our presidential candidate Ekrem." He started his speech by saying, "Why are we here? We are holding a congress while the party of Atatürk resists a civil coup, the next president of Turkey."