Turkey's CHP faces internal rift over leadership allegiance

The Republican People's Party (CHP) is experiencing heightened internal tension following debates over an absolute veto rule. Factions supporting party chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and those aligned with Özgür Özel are vying for influence. In this context, Etimesgut mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu's remarks were sharply criticized by CHP MP Umut Akdoğan, who said Beşikçioğlu was "çok yanlış yapıyor" (doing it very wrong) and warned that artists should not take partisan sides.

Separately, CHP senior figure Gürsel Tekin addressed the recent removal of former Istanbul provincial chairman Özgür Çelik, accusing him and his supporters of belonging to corrupt “cliques” involved in construction, tendering and land grabs. Tekin invoked the slogan "Siz o partide bu partide dolaşırken biz meydanlardaydık" (While you wander within the party, we were on the streets) and called for a broader “purification” of the party from such networks.