Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli called on former main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to assume what he described as a “historic responsibility” and seek a compromise with current Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chair Özgür Özel following a court ruling that invalidated the party’s 2023 congress.
In remarks to CNN Türk, Bahçeli said Kılıçdaroğlu should acknowledge that the court had recognized an injustice against him but avoid triggering internal divisions within the CHP by supporting a negotiated settlement.
“Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu should undertake a historic responsibility in order not to hurt this deeply rooted institution, not to damage it and not to cause chaos,” Bahçeli said. He added that Kılıçdaroğlu should meet with Özel and declare, within the framework permitted by law, that he would waive his position in favor of reaching a joint formula for the future of the party.
Bahçeli’s comments followed a ruling by Ankara’s Regional Court of Appeals regarding the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held on Nov. 4-5, 2023, where Özel defeated Kılıçdaroğlu in the leadership race.
According to Bahçeli, the court concluded that allegations of procedural irregularities during the congress had been substantiated and ruled the congress “absolutely null and void,” effectively treating it as legally invalid from the outset.
