CHP Prepares to Unveil Broad Election Platform at End of February

Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is preparing to present a comprehensive overview of its upcoming election platform at a large-scale introductory meeting planned for the end of February. The event is expected to serve as a preliminary launch of CHP’s election promises, following the party’s recent announcements of action plans on issues such as drug abuse, tax justice, and the prevention of violence against women.

Party officials say the meeting will bring together the work of newly established policy councils, which have been operating under a revamped organizational model introduced at the start of the year. According to senior party figures, CHP aims to clearly outline its vision across a wide range of policy areas before moving into an intensive field campaign.

One party official described the strategy by saying, “Our party leader will explain projects that can be considered election promises in many different areas. After that, we will explain these policies to citizens through fieldwork.”

A New Campaign Model and a Unified Policy Vision

Under its new approach, CHP’s Presidential Candidate Office plans to organize the February event as a central moment to define the party’s core policy framework. Party insiders emphasized that while several action plans have already been announced, the end-of-February meeting will present all policies as a unified whole.

Officials recalled that CHP has already shared detailed action plans on education, combating drug addiction, illegal betting, tax fairness, and preventing violence against women. They noted that these plans have also been communicated internally with the party organization. Looking ahead, they said the upcoming presentation will significantly broaden the scope.

A party source explained, “At the end of February, we will hold a general introductory meeting for all our policies across many different areas. After our chairman announces these policies, which can be considered our election promises, our organizations will go out into the field.”

The same source added that by the end of the month, CHP’s policy councils will have finalized proposals not only in social policy areas, but also in healthcare, agriculture, foreign policy, and many other fields. Once the full package is announced, a large-scale outreach effort will begin.

According to party officials, all CHP lawmakers, provincial chairs, Party Assembly members, and policy council heads will participate in an extensive field campaign to explain these proposals directly to the public.

Role of Ekrem Imamoglu in the Program

CHP insiders also addressed the role of Ekrem Imamoglu, the party’s detained presidential candidate, in shaping the program. Emphasizing unity, party officials said, “This program is our candidate’s program. It is all of our program. Ekrem, Chairman, will be at the head of the executive process.”

Key Policy Promises Already Announced

CHP has already disclosed several policy commitments, with further details expected to be expanded and formally presented at the end of February. Among the key proposals are the following:

In the fight against illegal betting and gambling addiction, CHP plans to consolidate fragmented gambling legislation into a single comprehensive law. A new Gambling Regulation and Supervision Authority would be established, while the powers of MASAK, Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, would be expanded. MASAK would play a stronger role in cutting off financial flows linked to illegal betting and would also be made more effective in the fight against drug trafficking.

In the field of education, CHP proposes addressing staffing shortages by appointing vacant teachers, security personnel, and cleaning staff. The party has pledged to abolish the interview-based teacher recruitment system. In addition, the policy of providing free access to clean drinking water, currently implemented by some CHP-run municipalities, would be expanded nationwide as a ministry-level policy. Schools would also employ healthcare professionals to provide psychological counseling and regular health screenings.

To combat violence against women, CHP has committed to reinstating the Istanbul Convention. The party plans to significantly expand the number of women’s shelters, counseling centers, and violence crisis centers across all provinces and regions.

Support for young people is another central pillar of the platform. CHP plans to establish a Rent Support Fund for low-income students and to introduce a Youth Tenant Law to protect people under 25. For retirees, the party has pledged that, if it comes to power, the lowest pension will be raised to the minimum wage within the first year. CHP also plans to introduce a Basic Citizenship Income to support citizens struggling with the cost of living.

Democracy and Social Peace Conference in Istanbul

In parallel with its policy rollout, CHP is also organizing a Democracy and Social Peace Conference in Istanbul this Saturday as part of a new dialogue initiative. The conference will focus on the Kurdish issue and will bring together representatives from all political parties, as well as legal experts and academics.

The opening speech will be delivered by CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, and CHP members serving on the parliamentary commission related to the resolution process will also attend. Party officials describe the conference as part of a broader effort to promote democratic dialogue and social reconciliation.