Reactions to the CHP convention case – Ali Mahir Başarır: “Why would 86 million people be interested in a ridiculous case?”

The CHP convention case was postponed. CHP members also reacted to the hearing of this case. Ali Mahir Başarır asked, “In our country, the judiciary and judicial decisions create anxiety. Why would 86 million people be interested in such a ridiculous case today?”

The third hearing of the lawsuit filed for the cancellation of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress held on 4-5 November 2023 and the 21st Extraordinary Congress held on 6 April was held at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance.

During the hearing, the CHP PM and YDK members elected in the 38th Ordinary Congress, whose annulment was requested, requested secondary intervention. The court decided to accept the secondary intervention request.

The court ruled that the objection to the decision of the Ankara 26th Criminal Court of First Instance regarding the irregularities allegations at the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress be awaited for finalization. The CHP congress case was postponed, and the decision will be given on September 8.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır, in his statement regarding the court decision, emphasized that the case should be immediately rejected both on procedural and substantive grounds, saying, “This is not Türkiye’s agenda, this is not our agenda. Türkiye has very big problems, we have a lot of work to do, we have prisoners in prison, we want to take this country to early elections, we want to win those elections and we want to bring peace and tranquility to this country. This is our agenda.”

Noting that a case was filed with four “schizophrenic” petitions, Başarır stated that Türkiye was busy with this. “This case has no equivalent in terms of procedure or substance, there is no such case,” Başarır said and continued as follows:

“If we think that such a case is accepted for a moment, there is no such thing as election security in Türkiye. Therefore, we will not deal with this nonsense. As a lawyer, this case should have been rejected immediately, this case should not have been brought to the agenda of the Turkish judiciary. But unfortunately, it has come to this point. I say the same thing about September 8: it should be rejected, because no one has the right to undermine the law and justice to this extent. Justice gives people confidence, the judiciary, justice gives people confidence as a guarantee. But in our country, the judiciary and judicial decisions create anxiety. Why would 86 million people be interested in such a ridiculous case today? It is a ridiculous case. We are here, our party is in safe hands. The general chairman, the administrators, the deputy group chairmen… We will never surrender our party.”

Former CHP Chairman Hikmet Çetin stated that Türkiye is at a critical threshold and emphasized that the CHP, which came first in the local elections, is this close to coming to power for the first time.

Çetin said, “Everyone is waiting as they are about to come to power for the first time,” and expressed that society has great expectations from the CHP.

Pointing out that a wide range of people, from retirees to workers, from those in poverty to the youth, want change, Çetin said, “We all need to gather around the party leader. We need to be united. The people have expectations. In the local elections, we became the first party after 47 years, for the first time since 1977. And this first party is actually the one who I hope will come to power with the support that will come.”

Çetin pointed out the economic crisis the country is in, the problems in the justice and judicial system, and the deadlocks in foreign policy, and said that the opposition should unite around the CHP. Çetin continued as follows:

"Unity within the party is a must. When this unity is not there, it means helping the parties in power. That unity must definitely be achieved. I will do everything I can. For the first time, a path to power has appeared. We are the first party, the gap is widening. I hope that we will be the first party in the elections to be held as soon as possible. I also think that it will be so."

When asked by reporters, “You made a statement of support for Özgür Özel, did you have the opportunity to meet with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu?” Çetin replied, “No. Because he says, ‘I will come, I will continue where I left off.’ I do not think that those who make such statements will be of any benefit. That is why I did not go.”

CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik also spoke after the case was postponed. Emphasizing that they would not allow their party to be divided, Çelik said, “With unity and solidarity, we will all tear apart this siege imposed on the CHP and the entire opposition in Türkiye. We stand by the will of the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress. We stand by the will of the Republican People’s Party’s realized 21st Extraordinary Congress. We stand by the CHP Chairman, Türkiye’s first party, Mr. Özgür Özel. We will protect our Republic. We will defend the CHP.”

Ozgur Celik continued as follows:

“I was the district chairman of this party for six years. I have been the provincial chairman for one and a half years. I had management positions before that. I was a ballot box officer for this party and I am 43 years old. I have been following the party’s congresses and conventions since I was 18. From neighborhood congresses to conventions, those looking for suspicion and blemishes can look at the AKP’s congresses and conventions. Those looking for suspicion and blemishes can look at the AKP’s congresses and conventions. A wide variety of gifts are distributed at the AKP’s congresses. I don’t know what is being done…”

Özgür Çelik, who said that a process was being carried out based on lies and slander, such as “100 flats were distributed in Istanbul, KİPTAŞ distributed 100 flats in Pendik, Istanbul,” said, “Let’s go, let them show us the door of the flat in Istanbul, let’s knock on it, let’s ask, ‘Were you given a flat at the convention?’ If the citizen says ‘yes,’ I will resign from the CHP tomorrow. I will resign from the Istanbul Provincial Presidency and the party.”