While the Republican People's Party was expected to be the hope of the people, unfortunately, today we are witnessing that it has been turned into a center of rent-seekers. The most recent and concrete example of this is the Doğanşehir district.
Despite all the objections of the municipal councillors of the party, the line, which provided transportation between the district and Malatya at more affordable prices, which was clearly a public service, and the 6 vehicles working on this line were sold for nothing on the grounds that “it was making a loss”. However, this service, which was maintained despite all the difficulties and pressures, was directly for the benefit of the people and was one of the basic examples of social municipalism.
In the face of this attitude of the mayor, who ignores the struggle of the municipal council members on behalf of the people and acts with the understanding of “I did it myself”; Municipal Council Members Sait Aşkın and Ergün Günaydın, who serve with the power they receive from the people, have announced to the public that they have resigned from the Republican People's Party council membership as of today and will continue their path as independents.
With this development, the number of municipal council members of the CHP dropped to 7, and the majority in the council was transferred to the opposition group. It was also stated that if this approach continued, new resignations might be on the agenda.
With this sale, the people who take over the line will be able to increase prices as they wish, and citizens will pay the price. We are asking openly here:
I thought the Republican People's Party would stand by the people under all circumstances?
I thought we started out by saying “change”?
We see that what is being changed under the name of “change” is not pro-people policies, but the transformation of public services into rent-seeking areas. This understanding detaches the CHP from the people and turns it into a livelihood gate for rent-seeking circles instead of defending the public.
From here I make an open appeal to the authorized bodies of the party:
If municipalities continue to be governed with this callous and dismissive approach, the hopes of citizens who have been looking forward to the future for years will be dashed one by one.
Our aim is not personal; our aim is to stand by the people and be the hope of the people, to defend a public, fair and pro-people understanding of governance in line with the founding principles of our party.
People's hope should not be consumed by decisions that are disconnected from the people.
The future belongs to the people.
Guest Author Mazlum Kutlu