CHP plans to postpone convention

Okan Konuralp ANKARA

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is planning to receive the approval for the postponement from the Party Assembly that will convene today. AA Photo

The main opposition social democrat party has considered postponing the party’s convention to the post-parliamentary election era in 2015. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is planning to receive the approval for the postponement from the Party Assembly that will convene today.

If the Party Assembly decides for the postponement of the convention, it will most likely be convened in 2015, after parliamentary elections to be held in June next year. Although the CHP’s Central-Decision Making Council has the power of postponing the convention, Kılıçdaroğlu preferred to receive the consent from the Party Assembly in order not to flare new discussion inside the party.

“The process for the convention continues. But when considering 2015 parliamentary elections calendar, it’s not possible co convene our local branches. That’s why postponing the convention is the right decision,” sources told daily Hürriyet. 

The decision, if made, will come at a moment when senior party officials criticized Kılıçdaroğlu for appointing Ekmelettin İhsanoğlu, instead someone from the party ranks. The Party Assembly meeting will be an important platform for dissidents to express their views about İhsanoğlu’s appointment.

Kılıçdaroğlu earlier said he respected these views, but he will not allow a second nomination from the CHP for presidency.