Turkey's CHP expels deputy over criticism on leader

ANKARA

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has sent one of its lawmakers to the party's disciplinary board over his criticism on the party's leader, seeking dismissal on Sunday.

Fikri Saglar, who is the party’s deputy from Mersin, was sent to the High Disciplinary Board for a permanent dismissal as the decision was taken by the party assembly, 38 members approving while 19 said No.

Following the party’s Central Executive Board meeting on Wednesday, a request for a disciplinary investigation against Saglar was sent to the party's assembly.

Talking to journalists, the CHP's spokesperson Selin Sayek Boke said Wednesday that the request to investigate the lawmaker was taken "by unanimous vote" at Wednesday's meeting.

Later in Wednesday evening, the party's chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu called an extraordinary meeting of the party assembly on Sunday to discuss the issue.

Saglar, who is a leading figure of the intraparty opposition, was quoted by the daily Aksam newspaper as saying: "Kemal Kilicdaroglu is not allowing any decisions to be taken in the party assembly. We discuss things for 6-7 hours but he gives his decision according to what is whispered in his ear."

"Kilicdaroglu made propaganda during the referendum campaign by saying 'we are against one man rule', but he became the one man," he added.

CHP's deputy head resigns

Following the intraparty disputes after the referendum, the party's deputy head and spokesperson Selin Sayek Boke resigned her posts on Saturday.

Boke criticized the existing party administration over controversial decisions questioning intra-party democracy, and suppressing opponents in the party.

She stated that the different ideas in the party were not included in the decision making processes and the party boards were not actively operated.

"As a politician who believes in the universal principles of participatory democracy [and] social democracy, and who thinks that the road to the libertarian democracy in Turkey is going through these values, I do not find it appropriate to be part of the existing administration's mentality," she said.

Boke added that she will continue to serve as a lawmaker in the parliament as a CHP party member.

Some in the party have been critical of CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu over decisions made during last month’s campaign against wide-ranging constitutional changes.

Turkish voters narrowly endorsed an executive presidency in an April 16 referendum. The CHP had campaigned for a No vote.

On Wednesday, the CHP decided to call an ordinary party congress to elect the party’s new leader.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu has led the CHP since 2010. At the last year’s party congress, Kilicdaroglu was the only candidate for leader, winning 990 votes from 1,238 party assembly members.

*Reporting by Mehmet Tosun; Writing by Ilker Girit