Operation

The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has entered a period of infighting. The clash between the CHP leader Deniz Baykal and CHP Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül has started to become more than just a squabble over a post, but an event that will affect the future of the party.

The movement started by Sarıgül, was interpreted by some as the start of an operation aimed at destroying and dividing the CHP. It is claimed that the reason why this operation was initiated was because the party took the lead in efforts to refuse permission for U.S. troop deployment before the start of the war in Iraq and the nationalistic foreign policy it has been following.

The CHP leadership claims that Sarıgül is receiving support from foreign and domestic backers. In this context, the outcome of the clash between Sarıgül and Baykal will determine the policies that the CHP will follow in the future.

The CHP General Congress that will be held on Jan. 29 in Ankara will either decide to continue with Baykal and preserve its current policies or it will chose a more lenient and liberal political attitude with Sarıgül. In addition to leadership elections, the members of the Party Assembly and the Supreme Disciplinary Board will be renewed at the congress. More than 1,200 delegates will decide the future of the CHP. It is also being suggested that the party may divide after the congress.

Baykal's attempt to rid himself from Sarıgül through party organs did not succeed. Baykal even failed to get the YDK, all of whose members were handpicked by Baykal himself, to dismiss Sarıgül. Eight of the 15 YDK members rejected the application to dismiss Sarıgül.

This decision by the YDK was interpreted by most as a goal scored against Baykal. Even Baykal's bribery claims did not change the result. Baykal will now try to utilize the bribery allegations until the congress to defeat Sarıgül.

Baykal, in his first statement that mentioned Sarıgül last November, had said Turkey's founder Atatürk was the first one to become the CHP leader, adding: “No one whose name has been involved in bribery and corruption investigations will be allowed to hold this post.”

In a later statement, Baykal said the CHP would never tolerate bribery and the party would make its voice heard at the congress.

Baykal and the party executive believe the congress will end with Sarıgül's defeat. However, Sarıgül, before he went to the YDK meeting, said he would become the CHP leader in two months and the subsequent YDK decision confused all. Another reason why most doubt Baykal would get an easy win at the congress is Sarıgül's statement that he would be receiving more than 8,000 of the 1,200 delegates' votes. Only 20 to 25 of the CHP deputies, out of 174, support Sarıgül. However, this support may increase as the congress nears.