CHP Beşiktaş mayor says he was referred to party disciplinary board for insulting party members

İSTANBUL

The main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Beşiktaş district mayor Murat Hazinedar said on Oct. 14 that he has been referred to the party’s disciplinary committee for insulting three party members.

Hazinedar read out the party’s central executive board decision on his referral during a municipal council meeting. The decision accused him of insulting CHP parliamentary deputies İlhan Cihaner and Aykut Erdoğdu, as well as party member Mehmet Ali Çelebi, at the municipal council two weeks ago.

The Beşiktaş mayor said his words came in response to an “attack campaign organized by the party’s key figures.”

He also vowed to act “with the same respect and attention” regardless of the disciplinary board’s decision.
Hazinedar said he had always acted in line with the responsibility of his post and strived to engage in politics “worthy of the district since he was elected.”  

Earlier reports had suggested that the CHP had launched an investigation into Hazinedar on claims of corruption.

“The CHP Central Executive Board has decided to refer our Beşiktaş mayor to the disciplinary committee,” CHP Deputy Chair and Spokesperson Selin Sayek Böke had announced after the board meeting on Oct. 13.
The move had come after an inner-party commission prepared a report on corruption allegations in local municipalities. 

Reports alleged that Hazinedar did not act in accordance with party discipline, cut down trees, forced municipality workers to perform personal errands, and abetted incidents of violence.