Kılıçdaroğlu turned down İmamoğlu’s demand to pioneer change within CHP, says renowned journalist

Journalist İsmail Saymaz has said that main opposition CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaorğlu turned down Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s intention to “pioneer the change” within the party following the election loss. 

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Renowned journalist İsmail Saymaz has said that Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has asked main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu that he pioneer the change within CHP, but Kılıçdaroğlu turned down this demand.

Saymaz made the comments to Sözcü TV on June 5 after the two politicians’ two meetings last week. The journalist argued that İmamoğlu demanded that the CHP enter the local elections with a completely new management.

“At the Ekrem İmamoğlu-Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu meeting, İmamoğlu said, ‘I can pioneer this change.’ And İmamoğlu defended that the change needs to be undertaken before the local elections (March 31, 2024) and immediately,” Saymaz said.

Last week, the majority of the CHP’s Central Executive Board (MYK) members resigned, with Kılıçdaroğlu appointing new names for the posts. 

In the face of poor election results, there has been a call for a change within the CHP, but it is not yet clear if Kılıçdaorğlu will also resign.

After President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s election victory, İmamoğlu similarly said that change is inevitable with the remarks of "Don't worry, everything starts again. Remember; ‘The only constant is change.’”