Intrigue, schemes and personal ambitions surface in CHP

    Baykal added to the confusion in the party when he said, “We need a new start, a young and dynamic group should take over.” However, the remark -- possibly result of a calculation itself -- appears to have created a series of tactical maneuvers as it was followed first by affirmation and then with denial.

Baykal came together with his party’s senior leaders -- Önder Sav, Mustafa Özyürek, Yılmaz Ateş, Onur Öyment and Cevdet Selvi -- to assess the situation on Wednesday, telling his generals to do their best to ensure there are no divisions within the party. CHP spokesman Özyürek told NTV after the meeting that Baykal would support Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. This was confirmed by Yılmaz Ateş.

But minutes after that revelation, Baykal denied that Kılıçdaroğlu was his preferred candidate. Shortly afterwards, Kılıçdaroğlu made a statement saying he was not considering running for party leadership. Baykal said: “I have no preferred candidates. I will publicly announce that person if there is one.”

Özyürek, who later spoke to the press at the CHP headquarters, said he was misunderstood. “I did not announce any nominations. I just said that Kılıçdaroğlu’s name was mentioned and that both the party organization and the voters support him. Our leader said if our party organization is unified around a single candidate, he would also support this. One such person might be Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. This is what we think. He is a talented person, but I don’t know if the party’s grass roots, the party’s members and our organizations would take too long to accept him.” He said the party delegates will nominate a candidate during the CHP congress in two weeks. Later, Ateş said: “What Baykal said was: ‘Look, I resigned. There are people being mentioned in public. They are also mentioning Kemal [Kılıçdaroğlu]. Look and decide. It could also be one of you’.”

Another scenario that is being talked about in the CHP’s backrooms is finding a temporary leader to steer the party until it is an acceptable time for Baykal’s return. Another possibility is just to leave things as is and have CHP Deputy Chairman Selvi elected in the congress. Yet another possible outcome could be that an internal war will break out over the party’s leadership, with the group supporting the influential Sav trying to get him elected in the next congress.

The most likely and obvious possibility is the return of Baykal, who delegates and party members would certainly re-elect at the congress. Yet another possibility is to continue with “transitional” party candidates. Possible names according to sources include Deputy Parliament Speaker Güldal Mumcu, CHP deputy parliamentary group leader Hakkı Süha Okay and former Treasury Undersecretary Faik Öztrak.

Party opposition watching closely

Meanwhile, known opponents of Baykal inside the party such as Ali Topuz, Eşref Erdem and Haluk Koç have been watching the developments closely. Those who would like to announce their candidacy in the May 22-23 congress are waiting for Baykal’s ultimate decision, or more signals. It is without question that if there is to be a new candidate, he will be designated by Baykal, according to political scientist Deniz Ülke Arıboğan. “I don’t think Kılıçdaroğlu has the leadership quality that it takes. If Altan Öymen is elected, this will not result in a transformation from the state-centered and elitist leaning of the CHP. I think that Gürsel Tekin might improve the party’s relationship with Kurds, Muslims and the relatively poorer parts of society. I think he would be a strong candidate,” Arıboğan said.

Meanwhile, some party branches are planning to organize a demonstration calling on Baykal to return. The many members of the CHP’s Ankara branch will be attending the funeral of former CHP deputy Oya Araslı’s mother. Party members also expect Baykal to attend the funeral and plan to use this as an opportunity to call him back to the party leadership. In fact, Baykal hinted in one of his post-resignation statements that he was impressed by some CHP delegates who began collecting signatures to petition him to return. Some delegates and party members cried when Baykal announced his resignation on Monday. Members of the CHP’s Zeytinburnu district branch started a hunger strike, calling for Baykal’s return.

He said he is not going to turn a deaf ear to these calls. “Of course, I have a responsibility to my party. I wouldn’t want it to fall into chaos. That is why I am waiting for someone to step in and become a candidate. I don’t want to prevent or discourage anybody. I don’t want to, at least for now, destroy the chances of a new candidate coming up. But I can’t really let them fall into chaos.”