Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu faces backlash over Gizem Altunsoy's CHP Ankara appointment

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu restructured the Republican People's Party (CHP) leadership in Ankara and placed 24‑year‑old social‑media user Gizem Altunsoy—known as “Gizem Lara”—on the 35‑member provincial management list. Altunsoy had earlier circulated alleged accusations against the late Şehzadeler mayor Gülşah Durbay and CHP official Özgür Özel, prompting criticism that the appointment rewarded alleged defamation.

The family of Gülşah Durbay responded on social media, saying, “We do not accept any apology from the person who attacked our daughter repeatedly,” and warned that those responsible would never be forgiven. After the outcry, Kılıçdaroğlu ordered the cancellation of Altunsoy’s appointment, stating she would not hold any party position. Altunsoy herself issued a statement denying involvement in any coordinated “lynch campaign” and expressing sorrow for Durbay’s family.

The episode highlights internal tensions within the CHP over candidate selection and the handling of alleged online defamation cases.