Fistfight breaks out at CHP Party Assembly meeting

The deputy chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Murat Özçelik, was beaten by a fellow party member in a fistfight that took place at the Party Assembly meeting on Sunday evening. The CHP Party Assembly, which is the highest decision-making body of the party, convened on Sunday evening to lift the pre-selection requirement for the upcoming Nov. 1 elections. According to sources from the CHP's headquarters, the meeting witnessed a brawl between the former Kahramanmaraş deputy Durdu Özbolat and Vice Chairman Murat Özçelik.

The fight allegedly started when Özbolat took the floor and criticized Özçelik, during the discussion regarding the CHP's networking abroad. CHP's vice chair had previously said he voted for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). According to CHP sources, Özbolat said it was unacceptable to have a person who did not vote for the CHP as the vice chairman. He continued his criticism by claiming that Özçelik's irreconcilable attitude regarding foreign policy was the reason the coalition talks between the AK Party and the CHP were inconclusive. It is alleged that Özbolat punched Özçelik while he was responding to Özbolat's questions and the other members intervened to break up the fight. It is claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to leave the caucus, but was prevented by ranking party officials. The sources said Kılıçdaroğlu reacted by saying, "This is the first time I have witnessed such an incident. Both of them are acting immaturely. Now we will have to see how the newspapers cover this incident tomorrow." In the following hours after the fight, it was expressed that Özbolat apologized for what transpired and Özçelik was ready to resign, but was prevented by Kılıçdaroğlu.