29.10.2026 23:57
Gürsel Tekin, former Istanbul Provincial Chair of the CHP, answered journalists' questions at the Turkey Press Federation's "Anatolian Conversations" program. Saying that the CHP's presidential candidate is ready and will be announced when the day comes, Tekin stated that they support the "Terror-Free Turkey" process and foreign policy steps such as the Mecca Alliance. Tekin reacted to the new party founded by those who left the CHP, while also warning about the balances in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Council.
Former CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Gürsel Tekin answered questions about the new party, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council, the “Terror-Free Turkey” process, foreign policy, and the fight against drugs on the program hosted by Sinan Burhan.
“WE HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE; THEY WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN THE DAY COMES”
Responding to questions about the new party’s presidential candidate and the situations of Mansur Yavaş and Ekrem İmamoğlu, Tekin said that Mansur Yavaş is not currently in the party and that he would therefore not comment on him.
Tekin said, “The Republican People’s Party already has a well-equipped, experienced presidential candidate who can win the nation’s trust. When the day comes, this name will be announced by our General Chair. Is the new party flying high? I cannot know who the new party’s candidate would be, and I do not see such an intention in Mr. Özgür either.”
WARNING ABOUT THE PEOPLE’S ALLIANCE FOR THE IMM COUNCIL
Noting that the balance in the IMM Council changed after resignations and returns and that the numbers are very close to each other, Tekin warned against the “risk of the council deputy chairmanship passing to the People’s Alliance.” Emphasizing that the responsibility for the decision to split lies with the new party, Tekin said:
“From the day we arrived, despite all kinds of wrongdoing, we have given every kind of support unconditionally and without demands so that the municipalities won by the Republican People’s Party, including the district municipalities, are preserved. Now it is not us but the new party that said, ‘Let’s split.’ I do not know what kind of picture will emerge in the coming days, but when there is an election, despite everything, we will continue our support for the continuation of the municipality in the province we won.”
“IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THOSE WHO CALL IT ‘NULLITY ADMINISTRATION’ SAY”
Reacting to the new party’s descriptions of the CHP administration as “Nullity Administration” and “Absolute Administration,” Tekin claimed that the team that left the CHP interfered with delegates using money. Claiming that irregularities were committed at the congress and provincial congresses, Tekin spoke as follows:
“They call us ‘Nullity Administration’ or ‘Absolute Administration.’ It is the contractor gangs who arrange delegates with money that brought this matter to this point. That is why what they say is of no importance at all. If they trust themselves, they should stop pressuring the press and come before us with their documents on whatever screen they want.”
“I SUPPORT THE ‘TERROR-FREE TURKEY’ PROCESS TO THE END”
Tekin, who supports the “Terror-Free Turkey” process initiated by MHP General Chair Devlet Bahçeli, emphasized that this issue cannot be a matter of votes or ballot-box calculations. Tekin said, “I am a person who congratulated Mr. Bahçeli when he first made this statement. In 2008, I said, ‘This problem cannot be solved without CHP and MHP,’ and I was proven right. Today, the efforts of the government, the MHP, and the CHP in this direction are very important and should be carried out even faster. I support the process to the end.”
MECCA ALLIANCE AND LIBYA AGREEMENT IN FOREIGN POLICY
Evaluating the Mecca Alliance, the Badr Alliance, and the Maritime Jurisdiction Areas Agreement signed with Libya, Tekin said that national issues should not be made into domestic political material. Tekin said, “We are very clear in foreign policy; whatever the interests of our country require, we will support it to the end, regardless of who is in power. Turkey is a country that demonstrates its power beyond its borders from the Middle East to Africa; these initiatives are extremely correct in terms of national interest.”
“THERE ARE 7-8 MILLION DRUG ADDICTS” CLAIM
Also touching on the economic crisis, poverty, and unemployment, Tekin argued that the greatest danger, which the media and politics do not pay enough attention to, is drugs. Stating that drugs have turned into a matter of survival, Tekin claimed that there are 7 to 8 million addicts in Turkey:
“There are 7 to 8 million drug addicts across Turkey. When the families of addicts are also taken into account, this figure means that an average of 20 million citizens are directly grappling with this problem. However, this situation is not brought to the agenda sufficiently either in the press or in politics. In the latest operations carried out as a result of our 15 years of efforts, only when the names of the children of politicians, writers, artists, athletes, or giant businessmen are mentioned does the issue become newsworthy. However, the situation is grave in all 81 provinces. If you call any muhtar and ask, they will clearly tell you what a great tragedy and problem is being experienced in their own neighborhood regarding this issue.”