Turkey: Ozgur Ozel announces candidacy for CHP leadership

The parliamentary group chair of main opposition People's Republican party (CHP) in Turkey announced that he will run for the party's leadership in the coming congress.

Ozgur Ozel launched his campaign on Friday, and as he publicly announced his candidacy he asked for support from the party's ranks, saying, "Turkey will change if CHP changes."

Criticizing party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, he said:

"The hope for change that emerged before the elections in Turkey has left its place to a profound disillusionment. The party leadership could not analyze the reasons behind the defeat and neither could it draw a new road map. They instead focused on holding on to power in the party. The leadership chose to turn a blind eye to discontent instead of taking steps for reform."

Pointing out that it was a big mistake to allow small parties parliamentary seats with CHP votes, he said:

"It has led to a destruction of historic proportions to let other parties have our 39 seats. This process was carried out without the knowledge of party's ranks. Even the elected councils were not informed. A leadership that avoids taking responsibility is unacceptable."

In the coming CHP congress, Ozel will run against Kilicdaroglu, who refused to step down after he was defeated by Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential election in May.

CHP not only lost in the presidential race, but also failed vastly short of a parliamentary majority with its ally Good Party in the parliamentary race despite economic woes caused by high inflation and a currency crisis.