CHP executives resign en masse following defeat to Erdoğan

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

During the first meeting of the Republican People's Party (CHP)'s Central Executive Board (MYK), subsequent to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's loss in the second round of the presidential elections, 17 MYK members submitted their resignations verbally during the meeting. The party's chair accepted their request.

Kılıçdaroğlu is set to appoint new members to the MYK in the coming days, and the CHP Party Council will convene on Saturday (June 3). Reportedly, the 74-year-old is considering to keep leading the party into the March 2024 local elections, while some deputies are contemplating resigning.

Disappointing elections

Following the May 14 and May 28 elections that shattered the aspirations of dethroning President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey's opposition now faces the task of regrouping for upcoming local polls within a year.

The recent presidential and parliamentary elections concluded with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan securing victory on Sunday (May 28), thereby extending his 20-year reign, in various tenures, for another five years.

This outcome served as a profound disappointment for the opposition coalition, known as the Nation Alliance or the "Table of Six", which had developed high expectations of toppling the President but fell short, with its contender capturing 44.8% of the votes in the first round and 47,82% in the runoff.

Adding insult to injury, Erdoğan and his allies maintained their hold on parliament.

Resigned CHP MYK members

Ahmet Akın, Ali Öztunç, Bülent Kuşoğlu, Bülent Tezcan, Devrim Barış Çelik, Faik Öztrak, Fethi Açıkel, Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, Gökçe Gökçen, Gülizar Biçer Karaca, Lale Karabıyık. (AEK/WM)