CHP appoints former İYİ Party member as Samsun provincial chair, triggering internal backlash

The Republican People's Party (CHP) Central Executive Board appointed former İYİ Party member Mehmet Pank (also reported as Mehmet Bank) as the new provincial chairman for Samsun, replacing Mehmet Özdağ who was dismissed two weeks earlier. The decision was announced after a MYK meeting chaired by party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Pank had previously served on the İlkadım municipal council as an İYİ Party list candidate before rejoining CHP.

Former Samsun chair Özdağ condemned the appointment, arguing that Pank’s recent party switch would confuse voters and contributed to CHP’s loss in local elections. He labeled the move a betrayal and vowed that party activists would not recognize the decision.