Kurtulmuş emerged the victor in a dispute with the party’s honorary leader, Necmettin Erbakan, on the party administration list during the party’s fourth grand congress, which came as a strong sign of a renewal in the party. Sunday’s gathering was marked by a battle between change and the status quo in the party. “Only the nation eliminates politicians in this country. We held a meeting not to eliminate people but to add new people to the party,” Kurtulmuş said at a news conference yesterday.
He said the party’s congress was magnificent, of the type that can be enjoyed by very few parties in the country, and offered his thanks to the SP organization and supporters for their contribution to the event.
With regard to the existence of two party administration lists at the congress, one being Kurtulmuş’s list and the other from Erbakan, Kurtulmuş said, “There were no lists on which two different candidates ran for party leadership with different programs and understanding of politics.”
Erbakan wanted to include his daughter Elif Erbakan, his son Fatih Erbakan, his son-in-law Mehmet Altınöz, Orhan Altınöz -- the older brother of his son-in-law -- and Ayşenur Tekdal, who is the daughter of Ahmet Tekdal, a die-hard supporter of Erbakan and one of the party’s elders. Kurtulmuş was listed as the leader on Erbakan’s list as well.
Indicating that a renewal process has begun at the SP after the congress, Kurtulmuş said it was time to act together for the party as the congress is left behind. “The words uttered with anger at the congress do not have any meaning. I am not offended by anybody,” he added. The recent tension within the Milli Görüş (National View) political movement, which dates back to 1969, is perceived as the second major step for change within the movement.
