The start of trouble in CHP

The CHP lost about a million votes in the March 28 elections, compared to the November 3, 2002 national elections. In 2002, the CHP attracted 6.227 million votes, but the number of votes going to the party decreased to 5.290 million this time around. The CHP received 19.3 percent of the votes in 2002, but received only 18 percent last weekend.

Despite these figures, Baykal said the results of the local elections could not be compared with the national election’s, and proceeding to compare it with the 1999 local election, announcing a great increase of support of 8 percent for the CHP. However, the center-left Democratic Left Party (DSP) had received 22 percent of the votes in 1999. Baykal ignored the fact that the DSP received only 2.2 percent of the votes over the weekend, and that the CHP had failed to attract any of the center-left votes that had gone to DSP in 1999.

Some members of the opposition within the CHP, who have no active jobs in the party, have started to openly call for Baykal and the party executive’s resignation. Baykal is expected to resist all pressure. These opposition members do not occupy executive posts in the party and their only chance of succeeding in an anti-establishment campaign depends on them attracting the members of the party-assembly and the parliamentary group. There are some voices within the party-assembly and Parliament who are criticizing the election results.

Deputies from Istanbul Ahmet Guryuz Ketenci and Nurettin Sozen described the election results as a collapse. Ankara deputy and party-assembly member Mehmet Tomanbay and Igdir deputy Yucel Artantas said a change in the party executive was needed.

In the next few days, debates about the election results are expected to take place both in the parliamentary group and the party-assembly. The election defeat has turned all eyes towards the CHP deputy-leader Kemal Dervis, who is widely seen as an alternative to Baykal. Sources say that Dervis will act according to the developments.

The opposition aims to topple Baykal at an extraordinary party congress. An extraordinary party congress can take place only if more than half of the delegates sign a petition. However, some say that a failing to unite around a single leader might cause the divided opposition to lose against Baykal.

Even if the opposition within the CHP fails in its objectives, no one expects the situation to calm soon.
Group calls for party congress in front of CHP headquarters

A group of CHP members, lead by former deputy Ali Haydar Sahin gathered in front of the party headquarters on Tuesday, and called for the convening of an extraordinary party congress.

Sahin said that the election results were a disaster and a complete defeat, and described CHP leader Baykal’s and his colleagues’ statements as playing with figures.

He said, "Baykal’s press conference after the elections made it clear that he had no intention to consult the real owners of the party, the members and the delegates, about the election results, and has decided to remain at the post he and his friend are currently occupying. The reason behind the rushed changes in the party regulation has now become obvious."

He claimed the party was eroding every passing minute and that he and his friend had come to voice their objections, which were shared by hundreds of thousands of party supporters.

He said many more party delegations from all around the country would be coming to the party headquarters after the weekend to ask for the convening of an extraordinary party congress.