CHP Authoritarianism

CHP İstanbul deputy Şükrü Elekdağ was recently sanctioned when he said in a closed party meeting that the closure case brought against AKP had little legal merit. On April 1, Elekdağ apparently requested time to speak at the meeting and said, “The indictment is very weak and comes against the European Union legislation with its current content. You cannot close a party based on this indictment.” CHP leadership quickly sanctioned him for bearing an opinion different from that of the leadership. Secretary-General Önder Say:

“Although this is a closed meeting, it was wrong for him to make these statements. Moreover these are statements made by someone who is not specialized in such matters."

Note that Elekdağ is not being criticized for the comments being made public, but for having made them at all. Particularly interesting is the denigration of his authority to even express an opinion.

In other news, CHP leader Deniz Baykal continues to insist that there is no "Kurdish issue" in Turkey. States of denial indeed. . .