[92765] Leadership Crisis in the CHP: Tension Between Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel Escalates

Political Crisis in the CHP: Is the Party Headed for a Split?

Internal tension in the CHP has reached a new peak against the backdrop of the struggle between the camp of former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the current leadership of Özgür Özel. According to Gündem Hattı, Özel's people are preparing to file a legal petition after 10 days have passed since the signatures were submitted for an extraordinary congress, a move Kılıçdaroğlu is trying to block by proposing a long-term ordinary congress.

In a report by gdh, it was noted that both sides are employing a rhetorical strategy of "blame games," with each side trying to push the other to withdraw instead of taking responsibility for splitting the party. While Özel's people emphasize that "the issue does not depend on Kılıçdaroğlu's will but on the party's rules" according to Gündem Hattı, Özel himself continues his political tour in various cities.

At the same time, criticism from figures associated with positions critical of the old leadership is intensifying. Political scientist Prof. Barış Doster, in an interview with Gündem Haber, claimed that "Kılıçdaroğlu has collapsed psychologically and morally" and that he suffers from a notable lack of consistency in his public statements. This approach reflects the line questioning Kılıçdaroğlu's legitimacy to continue influencing party institutions.