Türkiye’s main opposition party to hold convention once court injunction lifted: Kılıçdaroğlu

Convention plans

Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said on Wednesday the party will hold a general convention once a court-issued injunction is lifted, stressing that the process must proceed strictly on legal grounds. “We will hold a convention, friends. Can there be a party without a convention? A convention will be held,” Kılıçdaroğlu told reporters in Ankara, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.

“Of course, for this to happen, the convention must be held on legal grounds. There is an injunction decision, and once it is lifted the convention will be held without delay,” he added. The judicial block has prevented the CHP from gathering pending further court review.

Legal consultations

Asked whether the party would have to await a final and binding ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeals, Kılıçdaroğlu said the issue would be discussed with legal experts within the party. “We will meet with our lawyer friends, sit down and talk. What is the situation? How can we hold the convention as soon as possible? How can we organize it? We will work on these issues,” he said.

Leadership election

Responding to a question about CHP parliamentary group leader Özgür Özel’s proposal to elect a party chairman through direct votes of 2 million members, Kılıçdaroğlu said the procedures were clear. “It is already clear how the chairman is elected, and you cannot bypass the convention — party chairmen are elected by conventions,” he said.