In June 2025, I submitted an official petition to the Headquarters demanding the expulsion of Tanju Özcan from the Republican People's Party. My reasoning is clear: clear and unacceptable insults against our former Chairman Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
There is not the slightest connection between the deep-rooted history, political culture and internal party law of the Republican People's Party and Tanju Özcan's attitude and style. This person, who does not know what it means to be a party member and is far from the concepts of discipline and respect, is clearly harming the CHP.
However, the real problem is this: Chairman Özgür Özel cannot initiate the necessary procedures against Tanju Özcan. Taşkın Özer, the Chairman of the Supreme Disciplinary Board, is a defendant in the İmamoğlu criminal organization case, and his closeness to Ekrem İmamoğlu is known. In the same period, Taşkın Özer insulted our Chairman Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a similar manner to Tanju Özcan, and not a single sanction was taken against these two names by the co-chairs Ekrem İmamoğlu and Özgür Özel.
Finally, Tanju Özcan shared an X post against CHP Deputy Chairman Sezgin Tanrıkulu and insinuated that he was a “spy”. There is an administration that remains silent even when a mayor accuses the deputy chairman of his party in this way. What is more serious is that Özgür Özel has not initiated a single disciplinary process even in the face of this serious accusation against the CHP deputy chairman.
This picture is not only Tanju Özcan's problem. This picture shows that discipline, party law and political seriousness have been suspended in the CHP. If mayors in a party can insult the chairman, deputy chairmen and former chairmen and yet face no sanctions, there is a serious weakness in governance.
The Republican People's Party should be governed by rules, not by the egos of individuals. There is no political, moral and legal explanation for keeping Tanju Özcan in the party. For this reason, I say it loud and clear: Tanju Özcan must be expelled from the CHP.