CHP Chairman Özgür Özel appeared as a guest on the program “Bana Baştan Anlat” on journalist Özlem Gürses’s YouTube channel.
Özel answered questions regarding the debates at the CHP convention.
Özel argued that claims circulating on social media—that nearly 700 signatures had been collected for an extraordinary convention—were untrue, stating, ’The bylaws passed with 1,200 votes in favor and 36 against, just as we said. “There are neither 700 nor even 70 signatures today. It’s that clear. There aren’t even seven signatures,’ he claimed.
When Gürses pointed out that some people were claiming 700–800 signatures had been collected, he said, “Let them come right away and take over the presidency. ”There’s no such thing. Let me tell you this: there aren’t even seven signatures. Because you have to go to a notary, and those signatures have to be submitted within 15 days,” he said.
Özel, who claimed that the convention debates were a thing of the past, said, “It was evident both at the constitutional convention and, subsequently, last week when certain demands and complaints arose—I said, ”I’m putting an end to this debate now.’ Because I’d had enough.”.
“46 of the 81 provincial chairpersons were opposing me at the convention’
“Referring to the statement issued on behalf of the 81 provincial chairpersons one day after he said, ”As the CHP Chair, I am putting an end to this debate,“ Özel added, ’Of those 81 provincial chairpersons, 46 were not on my side at the last convention. Thirty-five were on my side, and 46 were against me. The next day, I said, ’We will walk this path together with all 81 provincial chairpersons.’ We have been working together ever since. A few days ago, they drafted a statement. They said, ‘We trust the party chairman.’ What’s being heard on the streets isn’t a call for a convention, but the footsteps of our administration. ”We’re all working together,’ they said.”.
“Gökhan Günaydın is my representative”
Özel also claimed that the allegation that İmamoğlu and Kılıçdaroğlu were acting in concert was “a complete lie,” and and when Gürses brought up the objections raised by Oğuz Kaan Salıcı and Gökhan Günaydın, he replied, “Gökhan Günaydın is my representative.”.
Özel, who claimed that reports regarding demands for a party convention were being voiced by non-party members, concluded his remarks by saying, “There is no debate about a party convention within the CHP.”.