Kemal kilicdaroglu, the Member of Parliament of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) from Istanbul has announced that he will be going forward as a candidate for the leadership of the party.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu who has received wide support from within the CHP for his candidacy for the leadership of the Party
The post for the leadership of the Republican People’s Party had been empty since 10th of May after, Deniz Baykal resigned from his post due to an alleged sex tape of the 71-year-old leader with a fellow MP.
Kilicdaroglu is well known in Turkish politics for his corruption accusations of the government which is ruled by the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
While it was commonly believed by many that Deniz Baykal will return to Turkish politics and be re-instated as the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), politicians and political experts believe Baykal is not doing enough for such a return.
However, Baykal who led the CHP for 18-years has also said himself that he will not be putting forward his candidacy for the leadership of the party though some believe that this is just a tactical move from the politician.
Kilicdaroglu came to the spotlight within the CHP and Turkey due to Baykal and the former leaders support for the new candidate.
But it is also said that Kilicdaroglu did not get the open support of Baykal for his candidacy for the leadership of the Republican People’s Party which will be declared in the CHP congress on May 22-23.
Why do politicians require Baykal’s approval?
Deniz Baykal the former leader of the CHP who resigned last week after a video tape of the 71-year-old allegedly having an affair with a fellow MP was released on a website.
Formerly, no one from the Republican People’s Party requires the approval of Deniz Baykal. Many people who read this article may ponder the actions of politicians belonging to the CHP of getting the approval of a leader who just last week resigned over an alleged sex tape which he has still not openly denied.
In most European countries and other first world countries, such a scandalous tape of such a high profile politician will be a done deal, he or she, regardless of their position or rank will be banished from that party or organization.
In Turkey things are slightly different. Many people especially supporters of Baykal and the CHP still openly believe that the tape was a conspiracy by the government or another secret entity who are attacking not just Baykal but the CHP party.
To better understand we need to go to the roots of the current politicians at the CHP and the party itself. Deniz Baykal is a politician who has been known for having great charisma and influence on the Republican People’s Party and its supporters.
Baykal has been part of the CHP since 1973 where he resigned as an academic after being elected a Member of Parliament for the Party.
He has always been known in the CHP for his thoughts and recommendations for the Party but was noticed by the Turkish public in 1988 when he was appointed as the General Secretary of the CHP.
He then became the leader of the Republican People’s Party in 1992 and though he has never won a single general election, in other words become the Prime Minister in Turkey; he has always been the main opposition of the government.
Undoubtedly, there are people in the CHP who do not like Baykal and are happy of the former leader to have resigned from his post. However, there are also an many who support him and see him as an irreplaceable leader.
So it would be fair to say, if a candidate for the leadership of the Republican People’s Party got the approval and support of Deniz Baykal, that person would be a front runner for the position, right?
“Ghandi Kemal”
Kemal Kilicdaroglu (aka Ghandi Kemal) is the first person brave enough from the CHP party to give his candidacy.
It has been debated amongst political circles about Kilicdaroglu not getting approval of the leadership run for the Republican People’s Party.
But it is also seen as a smart move by experts and political correspondents in Turkey as, though Kilicdaroglu announced his candidacy and demonstrated his confidence and courage, he did not go against Baykal getting the attention of both pro and non-pro supporters of Baykal within the CHP.
Topuz & Sav factor
Onder Sav has openly supported Kilicdaroglu for the leadership of the CHP
Ali Topuz and Onder Sav , two of the big guns of the CHP, with the support of some Anatolian MP’s for the Republican People’s Party played a key part in Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy.
Some experts and politicians believed that, no candidates were going to come forward for the 22-23 May CHP congress, which was going to open the path for Baykal to be re-instated.
However, Onder Sav who is against this notion said “emotions and actions should not be mixed” and supported Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu who then had the courage to put his candidacy forward.
Kilicdaroglu, has already given some fighting talk promising a 40% majority vote at the next general elections of Turkey.
Breaking News – Wide Kemal Kilicdaroglu Support
Kemal Kilicdaroglu has received wide support from the provincial leaders meeting of the Republican People’s Party held on Tuesday, after an overwhelming 77 out of the 81 leaders showing their support to Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy.
A large number of the provincial leaders have also admitted that they do not want Baykal to come back as leader of the Party.
Kilicdaroglu was associated with the leadership of the CHP after the 2009 General Elections defeat after the AKP government stayed in office for the second term in a row.
However, Kilicdaroglu was determined to stay beside Baykal, rather than opposing the former leader and had received much respect from some of the big names in the CHP.
