Gürsel Tekin, the Chairman of the Call Committee formed by the court for the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency, responded to harsh criticism from the party administration with an open letter shared on his social media account.
“We are not Bülent Arınç's hero, we are not Aziz İhsan Aktaş's friend, we are not Ertan Yıldız's friend,” said Gürsel Tekin, referring to the corruption allegations within the party and the support Özgür Özel received from AK Party circles.
This is my open letter to the sons of the Republican People's Party who have conscience and responsibility.
Brothers and sisters,
“A good scar is better than the best advice
more valuable.” And they say
The Republican People's Party has that scar.Republican People's Party;
On Wisdom, Courage, Chastity and Justice...- Gürsel Tekin (@gurseltekin34) January 8, 2026
Gürsel Tekin's statement starting with the address “This is my open letter to the sons of the Republican People's Party who have conscience and responsibility” is as follows:
“Brothers and sisters,
“A good scar is better than the best advice
more valuable.” And they say
The Republican People's Party has that scar.
Republican People's Party;
It is founded on Wisdom, Courage, Chastity and Justice.
His wisdom from love of homeland,
Your courage from glorious history,
Who does not allow corruption to corrupt her chastity
the spirit of the foundation,
And justice is based on conscience
unprecedented in world history
is a party.
Neither a stone thrown by an enemy nor a single rose of a friend can wound us.
We KNOW what we are doing.
WE are the indomitable and fearless soldiers of the Republican People's Party.
WE are NOT Bülent Arınç's heroes!
We are NOT friends of Aziz Ihsan Aktas!
WE are NOT Ertan Yildiz's friends!
We are uncomfortable with instability where red cards are shown one day and white cards the next.
The one who is silent on the allegations of bribery of contractors and whose silence comes from his guilt, ,
Vice Presidents disturb us.
We are uncomfortable with suspicion.
Those of us who add the nation's problems to the onions and bread on people's tables,
prepared by contractors
“The ”meat pan" disturbs us, touches our stomachs.
Relations with foreign powers,
capital groups and rent-seeking gangs disturb us.
Brothers and sisters,
The same for the same, separate for separate...
As I said; ;
We know what we are doing,
The value of this struggle that we have waged together will be understood in the future.
To save our party and our country
I invite each and every one of you to this glorious struggle.”