A Party Born in the Squares of Kuvayi Milliye...
When we talk about the CHP today, we should not forget the conditions under which the will that founded it was born.
The CHP is not the product of a desk organization, but of battlefields kneaded with the mud of the Kuvayi Milliye.
This history tells us this:
- The independence of the nation is the fundamental principle, not petty interests.
- Not the seat; the country is the priority.
- Sacrifice is essential, not profiteering.
The fact that such a party is playing three monkeys in the face of corruption allegations today produces a picture that contradicts the spirit of its own birth.
İsmet İnönü's Quote: “The honorable must be as brave as the dishonorable.”
İsmet Pasha, the second president of the CHP, uttered one of the most important statements of principle in Turkish politics.
This is the anti-corruption doctrine. Today, there is a perception within the CHP that criticism is not voiced enough.
This is precisely what İsmet Pasha would be uncomfortable with in his grave: moving away from the fact that clean politics requires courage.
Bülent Ecevit The Populist Legacy of Clean Politics
Bülent Ecevit is the leader who embodied the concept of clean politics in Turkey.
Even from his own party, he did not hesitate to march against the steps he saw as wrong.
Today, the CHP's failure to protect Ecevit's legacy sufficiently leads to a trust problem with the public.
Deniz Baykal: Tough Opposition against Corruption
Beyond political debates, Deniz Baykal is a leader who has never backed down in the face of corruption files.
Today's CHP leadership seems to have moved away from Baykal's tough and persistent opposition line.
Today's CHP: Silence and Agenda Shifting
Today, CHP cadres are criticized for failing to tackle corruption when the issue of corruption is raised, failing to make statements that would convince the public and dragging the issue into other debates.
It is precisely when these files are opened that a politician's character is tested.
Time for CHP to be worthy of its history
The silence and uncertainty seen in the CHP today does not befit the clean politics of Ecevit and Baykal, which comes from the Kuvayi Milliye, which includes İnönü's advice of courage.
The CHP can only recover by leaning on its history: uncompromising in the face of corruption, enforcing transparency, and bold politics.
Clean Politics is Above Corruption Files
Only by demonstrating a clear will to fight corruption can the CHP reassure its own voters and determine the future of Turkey.
Society expects the CHP to take a courageous stance like its leaders of the past. It has to be worthy of its history.