Kılıçdaroğlu was speaking following a meeting with his party’s Kocaeli branch officials on Wednesday. When a party member asked him whether a change is likely in the party administration and said that Kılıçdaroğlu is just the prime minister they have in mind, Kılıçdaroğlı predicted that a healthy change would occur in the next party congress. “We are expecting and longing for a new understanding of administration. We will meet with the public with a more dynamic, youthful and excited spirit,” he said. Stressing that he is not currently in the party administration as the Law on Political Parties does not allow parliamentary group deputy chairmen to have a place in party administrations, Kılıçdaroğlu added that a new mentality of party administration will be strengthened with a new party bylaw. Arguing that the CHP is the party that is closest to governing the country, he noted that the CHP will not be detached from the public.
“Don’t forget our name is the Republican People’s Party. We won’t be a party far away from the people. We will walk with the people and empathize with them,” he said.
Noting that the basic mentality of the CHP embraces all people, Kılıçdaroğlu said nobody should be otherized. Addressing his party’s women’s branches, he said headscarf-wearing women should not be otherized. He was referring to last week’s protest by members of the CHP’s women’s branch in Mersin who tore black chadors into pieces while commemorating the abolishment of the Islamic caliphate.
Kılıçdaroğlu, who was met with chants of “Prime Minister Kılıçdaroğlu” in Kocaeli, later moved on to Gebze and Çayırova, where he was also met by the same slogan. As Kılıçdaroğlu was delivering a speech at the Gebze party branch yesterday, his was frequently interrupted when party members shouted, “The party needs new blood” and “Those young revolutionists like you should be in the forefront.” However, Kılıçdaroğlu warned the party members that such issues should not be discussed in front of the press.
He also responded to criticism that he retreated from his remarks favoring a general amnesty after meeting with opposition from his party. Noting that he stands behind what he said, Kılıçdaroğlu said Baykal is also of the same opinion as him on the issue. “If social peace is to be established and terrorism to end, there should be a general amnesty. I said there would be a general amnesty if there is social peace. What’s social peace? It is a peaceful environment where arms and clashes do not exist. My opinions do not contradict my leader’s, but they overlap,” he said.
In the meantime, asked about Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks on a change in party administration Wednesday evening, CHP leader Baykal confirmed that they plan a major change in the party administration and bylaws but did not comment on some CHP members’ shouts of “Prime Minister Kılıçdaroğlu.”
