CHP's trial with the Gülen Movement

Following the local elections, the Republican People's Party (CHP) is going to settle the accounts. Indeed, its clearance never came to an end.

Whoever I talk to says, "The CHP used to have at least a stable road map and integrated authority." However, the CHP did not only lose its way but now became a hot spot. There are many different political actors, social democrats, right-wing members, nationalists and Gülenists in the CHP who try to eliminate each other, such as Mustafa Sarıgül, Gürsel Tekin, Mansur Yavaş and Deniz Baykal, all waiting in ambush.

In short, the CHP is more complicated than ever and looks like a time bomb ready to explode. There are two main hot subjects: the CHP's defeat in the local race and its relationship with the Gülenists.

Some of the CHP's left wing and social democrats are on full alert to take action on these issues. In this respect, their upcoming party caucus may be a turning point. There are left-wing members who are concerned about whether the CHP's election-based relationship with the Gülen Movement will continue in the post-election period.

A former CHP representative and current group member said, "We cannot properly interpret Turkey's present situation and political process. We should have stood by politics, yet took action with the Gülenists we disregarded a while ago. The CHP previously acted as the lawyer of the Ergenekon case and now walks with the Gülenists, who not only started this case but also took late journalist İlhan Selçuk and late social activist Türkan Saylan into custody. If some Ergenekon defendants convicted in Silivri Prison are free now, the underlying reason of their release is not the Gülen Movement, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. If the Gülen Movement was in charge, they could not be released. In light of this fact, three CHP members are still going to meet with the U.S.-based Gülenist organization. The CHP's general situation is not good at all."

I asked the CHP member why he did not share his views in an official statement.

He smiled and answered my question, "We need time. Many things will be changed." I asked what is going to change, yet could not receive a clear answer. He only hinted that the first step will include some changes in the CHP'S Central Administrative Committee after the upcoming party caucus. It is expected that some important CHP members active in selecting the local election candidates such as Adnan Keskin, Erdoğan Toprak, Gökhan Günaydın, Umut Oran and Bihlun Tamaylıgil will presumably be excluded. We will see which CHP members are ascendant in the following days.