Gürsel Tekin Responds to CHP Trusteeship Controversy: “Politics Is Not Done by Sitting in the Building”

The 45th Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance has ruled to appoint a trustee board to manage the Istanbul Provincial Organization of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Among the five-member panel is Gürsel Tekin, a long-time CHP figure who previously served as Istanbul provincial head.

Speaking to Sözcü, Tekin confirmed that the trusteeship had officially begun:

“My colleagues and I assumed our duties as of today. Presidency is not necessarily carried out inside a building. During my three-and-a-half years as provincial chair, I spent at most 40–45 days in the party building. Politics is not done by sitting in an office. Nobody can question my loyalty to this party.”

“There Is a Funeral – Do We Let It Rot?”

Tekin addressed internal criticism, stressing that he was not responsible for the crisis that led to court intervention:

“I don’t want to upset anyone. I didn’t bring the party to this situation. There is a funeral—do we just leave it to rot? When I was expelled from the party, it was immediately announced. Yet I know seven people who turned informant and are still party members. Nobody touches them.”

Legal Basis of Trusteeship

Tekin reminded that the court had the authority to assign even non-CHP members as trustees if it chose:

“For instance, they could have appointed people from the Istanbul Bar Association. But I have been in CHP for 42 years, serving at every level. My colleagues are the same. I don’t understand why they are disturbed by our presence. We didn’t lobby for this role. During our mandate, we will act strictly in line with the party’s bylaws and the law. Our priority is to extinguish the fire in the party and protect the rights of those whose duties were terminated.”

CHP Pushes Back: “Usurpation of Authority”

The decision triggered strong objections within CHP ranks. The party’s representative at the Supreme Election Council (YSK), Mehmet Hadimi Yakupoğlu, argued that the ruling exceeded the jurisdiction of civil courts:

“Civil courts have authority only on issues not covered by the Political Parties Law, such as opening congresses, forming the presiding board, and conducting agenda discussions until elections begin. Once elections start, authority belongs to the district election judge, and their decisions are final under Article 21. Only the Supreme Election Council can annul such rulings. Civil courts cannot overturn election results certified by the district election board.”

Yakupoğlu also highlighted that Article 79 of the Constitution grants YSK the sole authority to decide on election matters, adding:

“Even the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights have stated they cannot review YSK decisions. Therefore, this ruling directly violates both the Constitution and the Political Parties Law. It is a clear usurpation of authority.”

What’s Next for CHP Istanbul?

The trusteeship decision leaves CHP Istanbul in a turbulent moment, raising questions about internal party governance, legal procedure, and political strategy ahead of upcoming elections. While Gürsel Tekin insists that his mandate is about restoring order, opposition voices within the party frame it as an external intervention in CHP’s democratic processes.