19.06.2026 16:00
The appointment of Utku Gümrükçü as the new Izmir Provincial Chairman, replacing Çağatay Güç upon the directive of CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, caused chaos at the party building. While supporters of the dismissed Güç kept a vigil at the provincial headquarters, an argument with party members who brought congratulatory flowers for the new chairman escalated into a scuffle. The tension ended with the removal of those supporting the new administration from the building.
The Republican People's Party (CHP) İzmir Provincial Directorate was shaken by the decision of the Central Executive Board (MYK) under the chairmanship of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who returned to the general chairmanship with a 'null and void' decision after the congress process. Following the meeting, İzmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç was dismissed, and former Çiğli Mayor Utku Gümrükçü was appointed in his place. This decision escalated tensions in the İzmir organization to the highest level.
DISMISSED CHAIRMAN BEGINS "SIT-IN" AT PROVINCIAL HEADQUARTERS
Former provincial chairman Çağatay Güç, who did not accept the dismissal decision, came to the provincial headquarters with his supporters as of yesterday and began a kind of "seat vigil." Güç and his companions, who did not leave the building, continued to express their reactions to the decision.
CONGRATULATORY FLOWER TRIGGERS TENSION
Today, the feared tension occurred at the provincial headquarters. A group of party members who came to the party building to congratulate newly appointed Utku Gümrükçü and give flowers encountered Çağatay Güç's supporters holding a vigil inside. Verbal altercations between the two groups quickly turned into a heated argument and scuffle as tensions escalated.
NEW CHAIRMAN'S SUPPORTERS REMOVED FROM BUILDING
The tension, which spilled over into the office and corridors, ended when the crowd supporting former chairman Çağatay Güç asserted its dominance. Party members who brought flowers to support Gümrükçü were removed from the building by the other group. As the cold war at the provincial headquarters and the crisis between the new administration and the old administration continue to escalate, it remains a matter of curiosity what intervention the general headquarters will make regarding this chaos in İzmir. Political circles are closely monitoring the developments in İzmir.