CHP to hold ‘Women’s Congress’ on anniversary of women’s voting rights

ANKARA

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will convene a “Women’s Congress” on the 83rd anniversary of the granting of the right to vote and stand for election to Turkish women.

The congress will be held on Dec. 5, the 83rd anniversary of the legislation granting Turkish women the right to vote and stand for election, and will gather women in all 81 provinces of Turkey.

The decision was taken at the party’s central executive board meeting on Oct. 4, convened under CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

The congress will provide a platform for women to discuss the problems that Turkish women have faced and try to come up with solutions.

The CHP board also scheduled a two-day meeting in Istanbul on Dec. 1 and 2, at which the party’s women’s branch chairperson, Fatma Köse, will coordinate panels on women’s issues under the sub-headings “justice,” “workforce,” “violence,” “media,” “popular culture,” “security,” and “the EU.”

Then on Dec. 5, a grand congress will come together at the Ankara Arena, while the party’s weekly parliamentary group meeting will be held in parallel with the congress.

Criticism on ‘dual bureaucracy’

Meanwhile, speaking at the meeting, Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the current administration, arguing that Turkish politics is run by a “parallel palace organization,” referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office.

He claimed that Turkey is run by a “dual bureaucracy.”

“The parallel palace structure is a cause of the tension and troubles that Turkey is experiencing,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, according to CHP sources.

“There are two different bureaucracies in two different places and these two structures are not getting along,” he added.

“Turkey’s bureaucracy and administration cannot carry this weight any longer. Those who are in the palace are trying to govern the state, thinking they are the ones who will rule the country in the near future,” he added, referring to the transition to an executive presidential system.

The CHP head also said tension is becoming visible within the ministerial cabinet.

“There is a conflict between current ministers and politicians who are waiting to be a minister in the new system. That causes Turkey to not be governed well,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that current troubles are damaging Turkey’s reputation in the international arena.

Turkey’s new executive system, which was approved in the constitutional amendment referendum in April 2016, will fully go into effect after presidential and parliamentary elections in 2019.