Mustafa Bildircin
A state of emergency was raised at the CHP Headquarters for the first Party Assembly meeting to be held following the "absolute nullity” decision. The visitor entrance gate at the CHP Headquarters was locked.
Journalists were admitted inside following a strict inspection. Clearances between floors at the CHP Headquarters were also restricted.
It was observed that the number of private security personnel at the entrance of the Headquarters was increased.
The appointed administration of the CHP targeted journalists who were doing their jobs with slanderous allegations.
The announcement regarding the visitor ban is posted in numerous locations across the party, including the entrance of the CHP Headquarters.
It was stated that the access passes that allow journalists to walk around the floors "would not be issued specifically for today".
INSTRUCTIONS TO SECURITY
It drew attention that the press cards of some journalists were checked by more than one private security officer. When asked about the reason for the practice, journalists received the reply, "We received instructions to this effect." It was alleged that the decision was taken to block the entry of visitors who wished to come to the CHP Headquarters to show their reaction, as well as Party Assembly members whose definitive expulsion from the party with cautionary measures had been requested.
RESIGNATION MOVE
While the state of emergency continued at the CHP Headquarters, CHP Leader Özgür Özel made his first move against the expulsions. Twenty-seven out of 57 Party Assembly members in the CHP resigned. CHP executives, recalling Article 24/3 of the Party Statute, argued that "the Party Assembly and the Central Executive Board have officially fallen."
Executives close to Özel, stating that a "convention within 45 days" became mandatory with the number of Assembly members dropping below 40 according to the Party Statute, once again called the Kılıçdaroğlu administration to an extraordinary convention.
THE INJUNCTION CARD
The CHP Headquarters, which came into administration via a decision by the Ankara Regional Court of Justice, once again put forward the "injunction" card. Arguing that the court's injunction decision created a "state of emergency", CHP executives close to Kılıçdaroğlu commented, "The Party Assembly can function even if five people remain."
To the question, "Will it still be held despite the resignations?" regarding the Party Assembly, the Kılıçdaroğlu wing replied, "We will hold our meeting. We have set out on a path, we will not take a step back." Kılıçdaroğlu’s executives reinforced the allegations that controversial practices would continue by saying, "We cannot be expected to take ordinary decisions during extraordinary periods."
“THEY ARE DELIBERATELY CAUSING HARM”
Party members close to the CHP Leader Özel, on the other hand, stated that all decisions signed after the absolute nullity, which are deemed "unlawful" — including the expulsion decisions — would be taken to the judiciary. Stating that the Kılıçdaroğlu wing "is acting in line with the agenda placed before them by the Palace", the CHP members said, "They are deliberately and knowingly harming both the party and the country."
EXPULSIONS CONTINUE
It has been learnt that the party administration appointed to the CHP Headquarters by a court decision will continue with expulsions. It was reported that numerous names, among whom are mayors and MPs, will be dismissed from the party following the Central Executive Board meeting dated 12 June. On the other hand, it was also alleged that the Kılıçdaroğlu administration has created a blacklist concerning artists who reacted against the court decision and did not permit the use of their works.
A MEETING OF 27 PEOPLE
Despite all objections and the view that "the Party Assembly has fallen due to the resignations", the CHP Party Assembly under the chairmanship of Kılıçdaroğlu commenced its meeting at 13:10. It was noted that the CHP Party Assembly convened with 26 people, including Kılıçdaroğlu. It was reported that Yaşar Seyman, who was alleged to be planning to resign during the Party Assembly meeting, "was persuaded". Seyman abandoned her decision to resign and entered Kılıçdaroğlu's Party Assembly.
WHAT WILL ÖZEL DO?
It was emphasised that the Özgür Özel wing in the CHP "will resist until the end". Party executives close to the CHP Leader Özel described the option of a new party as "the very last option". Stating that the struggle will be built upon "saving the CHP from those who seized it by a court decision", the CHP executives recorded the comment, "A new party will come onto the agenda when the last resort has been exhausted."
INCOMPLETE MEETING
The CHP Party Assembly Meeting concluded at 15:45. Appearing before the cameras after the meeting, CHP Party Spokesperson Müslüm Sarı stated that the Party Assembly had convened with missing members and shared the following information regarding the agenda of the meeting:
“We would have preferred a meeting where all our friends were together, but 27 of our friends notified us that they had resigned. In fact, the place of resignations is not the CHP Headquarters; we evaluated this for informational purposes. Since we are persons who came into office with the authorization of the regional administrative court, the resignations or the status of not accepting the duty must also be evaluated by the relevant court. Let us remind these friends that they do not recognise the decision taken by the court, but they received a notification from the relevant enforcement office to participate in the meeting.
THE NUMBER IS OF NO IMPORTANCE
There is a debate over whether the Party Assembly will fall because the number has dropped below 40 in the Party Assembly. Here, there is a disregard for a rendered injunction decision. Along with the injunction decision, the former organs also return to office. A convention cannot be held before the decision becomes final. a criminal case is also being carried out regarding this process. The attempt to render the Party Assembly dysfunctional through resignations also means failing to comply with a judicial decision. The number of members in the Party Assembly is of no importance for the time being. It is very clear that the Statute cannot be applied at this point. The Party Assembly will continue to make decisions with the absolute majority of those participating in the upcoming period.
In political parties, during extraordinary situations, the supreme decision-making organs of political parties can perform all works and transactions except for abolishing the legal personality of the party and making amendments to the statute. The falling of the Party Assembly in the face of these resignations and going to a convention from here is out of the question. But this does not mean that a convention can never be held. We also think that the only way out from here is only possible through a convention. In fact, we were going to talk about these issues in the Party Assembly today.
CONVENTION SCHEDULE
We discussed in our meeting today that we want to put a convention schedule before the party. In the Party Assembly, we have decided on the issue of announcing a convention schedule to start the ordinary convention process. It may be asked why it is not an extraordinary convention. You need to determine a schedule for an extraordinary convention, but there is an unfinalised court process. Therefore, we cannot determine a date. However, in order not to leave the party without a convention, we have at least initiated an ordinary convention schedule process. The process begins, and we will not have waited for the court in an inactive manner.”
Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Kurultaydan kaçış planı: CHP’de ucu açık kurultay takvimi, published in BirGün newspaper on June 12, 2026.
