CHP's Baykal aims for power on party council
According to sources close to the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters, CHP deputy and former chairman, Deniz Baykal, is trying to get support for those who are close to him in the party council with party delegates who are close to him. While the CHP's provincial organization congresses continue, the real competition in the CHP is predicted to take place at the ordinary party congress election that will be held on Jan. 16-17 to elect the party council members. After failing to gather enough signatures to hold an extraordinary congress, intra-party opposition began to weaken current CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's power at the party assembly, but the required 120 signatures for becoming a candidate for the party chairmanship is the main obstacle for possible candidates for the chairmanship. Moreover, the number of candidates is predicted to be higher than expected at the approaching congress due to a lack of unity between CHP members.
Sources further reported that Baykal, who did not support the party oppositions' demand for an extraordinary congress, is trying to obtain support during the party council election of delegates who are close to him. The influx of party council candidacies is also related to Kılıçdaroğlu's plans to change the Central Executive Board (MYK) and council members.
Following the Nov. 1 elections, the significantly increased critical voices in the CHP began to censure the administration. Key opposition figures – Umut Oran and Mustafa Balbay – who already declared their intention to run against Kılıçdaroğlu, are not expected to receive enough support for candidacy.
The changes Kılıçdaroğlu mentioned prior to the June 7 elections concerning the quota of candidates who enter the party council with quota implementations will be submitted to the council first. If the party council approves the change, it will be submitted to the delegates. With the changes, the candidateship or membership of council quota will be limited to one term, which means that any quota candidate or member of the council will not be able to become a quota candidate again. Normally, eight members of the party council submitted by party leader are elected by Science, Administration and Culture Platform (BYKP) delegates.
Sources further reported that Baykal, who did not support the party oppositions' demand for an extraordinary congress, is trying to obtain support during the party council election of delegates who are close to him. The influx of party council candidacies is also related to Kılıçdaroğlu's plans to change the Central Executive Board (MYK) and council members.
Following the Nov. 1 elections, the significantly increased critical voices in the CHP began to censure the administration. Key opposition figures – Umut Oran and Mustafa Balbay – who already declared their intention to run against Kılıçdaroğlu, are not expected to receive enough support for candidacy.
The changes Kılıçdaroğlu mentioned prior to the June 7 elections concerning the quota of candidates who enter the party council with quota implementations will be submitted to the council first. If the party council approves the change, it will be submitted to the delegates. With the changes, the candidateship or membership of council quota will be limited to one term, which means that any quota candidate or member of the council will not be able to become a quota candidate again. Normally, eight members of the party council submitted by party leader are elected by Science, Administration and Culture Platform (BYKP) delegates.