Kilicdaroglu: No tension in the party after elections

Kilicdaroglu: No tension in the party after elections
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CHP leader has circumvented a question if he is planning to leave post, saying authorized councils will collectively make a decision on the fate of the party leadership.

Asked if he made a decision on whether or not to step down after the election defeat, the leader of main opposition in Turkey said on Thursday that the decision about the party leadership was to be made collectively by party officials.

The Republican People's Party's (CHP) leader and the joint presidential candidate of the opposition Kemal Kilicdaroglu suffered a defeat against Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, despite serious economic woes the country is facing. His first reaction to the results was to announce that he will not step down and continue to struggle.

While it remains unclear if the CHP congress will be held on time in summer or whether it will be postponed till after the local elections in March 2024, journalist Fikret Bila asked Kilicdaroglu if he is planning to leave his post or not.

Kilicdaroglu replied:

"CHP has deep roots. In CHP, all views are easily expressed, discussed, and the party's authorized councils make the final decision at the end of this process. We are now going through such a process. Discussions will be held and assessments will be made in the Central Executive Council and Party Assembly, we will eventually make a decision collectively and announce it."

Asked whether there are rising tensions within party ranks and if there are disputes between the Central Executive Council and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, one of the strongest potential candidates for the party leadership, Kilicdaroglu said:

"There are no problems, no tension at all. We are going to talk, make assessments, and make a road map altogether."