Since the absolute nullity ruling, the question of who will speak at CHP's group meetings has resurfaced every week. Both Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu claim they will be at the group podium tomorrow (June 9), but uncertainty persists. What are the parties saying, what does the relevant regulation state, and who has the right to the podium? This summary was prepared by artificial intelligence and reviewed by an editor.
After the absolute nullity ruling against CHP, the debate over who will hold the group meeting became one of the most visible aspects of the ongoing authority crisis. Statements from the appointed administration reignited the discussion. Kılıçdaroğlu's move on the group meeting
Elected chairman Özgür Özel was chosen as "Group Chairman" in a closed group meeting with deputies after his dismissal and held one of the most crowded meetings in the party's history last week under this title.
After the group meeting on June 2, Özel told journalists at the Parliament that he would not hold a group meeting on June 9, as he would be in Manisa for the anniversary of the death of Manisa Metropolitan Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek. On the same day, CHP's well-known chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced the Central Executive Board and held its first meeting.
The new party spokesperson Müslim Sarı stated at a press conference on June 3, "Republican People's Party Chairman Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will hold a group meeting in the parliamentary group hall next Tuesday," bringing the debate into the new week. On June 4, when asked if he would speak at the group meeting, Kılıçdaroğlu replied, "Hopefully, all together."
On June 5, Kılıçdaroğlu's answer to the same question was "Of course, of course." It was also announced on the party's official accounts that Kılıçdaroğlu would hold the group meeting tomorrow at 13:30. After police intervention at the party headquarters, the CHP's X account shared Kılıçdaroğlu's group meeting call for the first time. "Our Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will preside over the Republican People's Party TBMM Group Meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 13:30. Pic. Twitter. Com/9wmX1ORVvi"
Sources from the party headquarters argued that there is no obstacle to Kılıçdaroğlu speaking at the group podium as "Chairman." However, Özgür Özel's side pointed out that the authority lies with the Group Executive Board and the Group Chairmanship. After Kılıçdaroğlu's move, all eyes turned to Özgür Özel.
It was a matter of curiosity whether Özel would go to Manisa on the first anniversary of Ferdi Zeyrek's death and whether he would leave the podium empty. Özel announced his clear decision today, saying, "We cannot leave the podium to an appointed person. I thought a lot about 'What should I do?' I heard Ferdi's voice. Whenever I couldn't go there, he would say to me, 'Brother, you are needed there, we will handle this here.' That's why I am needed here tomorrow, friends," he said. According to the CHP TBMM Group Internal Regulation, the Group Executive Board decides on the group meeting. While Özel was making his statement, the CHP Group Executive Board informed the Parliament Presidency that Özgür Özel would speak at the group meeting tomorrow at 13:30.
Meanwhile, it was claimed that a letter stating Kılıçdaroğlu would speak at the group meeting was sent to the CHP Group but was disregarded by the group management as it was against traditions. The Kılıçdaroğlu side denied such a request was made. After Özel's statements, a letter signed by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was sent to the Parliament Presidency requesting that the visitor list be allowed into the meeting hall.
The letter included the following statements:
"The 4th Legislative Year 28th Session of the Republican People's Party Parliamentary Group Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 09.06.2026, at 13:30 in the TBMM CHP Group Meeting Hall.
I respectfully submit for your information the necessary arrangements to allow the visitors listed in the attached list, who will come to the TBMM to attend the Group Meeting where I will deliver the opening speech as the Chairman of the Republican People's Party."
Zeynel Emre, spokesperson for Özel's administration, criticized the irresponsibility of putting party members face to face while both sides call for group meetings. Emre said, "Everyone who causes or supports this decision or does not take a stance on the unlawful process tomorrow will be responsible for any possible negative outcomes."
The appointed administration's spokesperson Müslim Sarı insisted on social media that Kılıçdaroğlu would be at the group meeting. Sarı stated, "Any negative developments will be considered disrespectful to our country's founding party and the historical legacy of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We fully believe that our deputies will demonstrate a sensible, careful, and moderate attitude under the noble roof of the TBMM." Amid these tensions between the two CHP factions, the TBMM General Secretariat announced new visitor capacities for the halls where group meetings are held through a letter sent to political party group chairpersons.
According to the decision taken under the TBMM Security Regulation, the maximum number of people allowed in the halls was redefined. Visitor capacities were announced as 1,207 for AKP, 630 for CHP and İYİ Party, and 352 for DEM Party, MHP, and Yeni Yol Group.
It was noted that these capacities include deputies and staff, and visitor numbers for each political party group will be separately defined through the system. Additionally, visitors whose names are entered into the appointment acceptance system and who have a "Group Meeting Entry Card" will be allowed into the halls during group meetings.
Before Özgür Özel, as group chairman, held his first group meeting, Kılıçdaroğlu wrote a letter to the Parliament Presidency stating they would not hold a group meeting. On June 1, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said, "The Republican People's Party should resolve this issue within its internal dynamics and institutional structure and eliminate the problem. We will write to the CHP Chairmanship to resolve this contradiction. This is not a matter where the Parliament Presidency can say, 'No, do it this way.'" With the June 1 decision of the CHP Group Executive Board, Özel took the podium on June 2. However, after announcements that both sides would hold meetings this week, Kurtulmuş responded on June 6 as follows:
"I want to express my regret at following the contradiction within CHP. As Parliament Speaker, I have been very careful not to take sides in these internal matters from the beginning. If you notice, I do not speak much and choose my words very carefully. Ultimately, the TBMM Presidency is limited by the Parliament's Internal Regulations and the parties' group internal regulations in these matters.
We must make decisions based on the letters we receive from there. There are letters from the CHP Headquarters and CHP Group Chairmanship. Last week, Mr. Özel held a group meeting as Group Chairman with the signatures of CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairmen.
Similarly, the current legal regulations clearly state that the CHP Chairman or any party chairman can speak at their party's group meeting; there is no article preventing this. Therefore, we must act accordingly."
Following the recent developments where both sides called for meetings at the same time and place, it is also wondered whether Kurtulmuş will take any initiative. The CHP TBMM Group Internal Regulation clearly states, "If the CHP Chairman is a deputy, he is also the head of the CHP TBMM Group." Therefore, after being removed from the chairmanship by court decision, Özel's first move was to hold a group chairmanship election.
The phrase in the regulation, "The Group Chairman works under the General Chairman," is one of Kılıçdaroğlu's side's main arguments. This team also argues that the meeting where Özel was elected group chairman is invalid because the meeting was not called three days in advance as required by the regulation. Group meetings, referred to as "Group General Assembly," can be convened with at least one-third of the deputies.
The Group General Assembly is chaired alternately by the group chairman or deputy chairmen; two of the secretary members or Group Executive Board members also sit on the Chairmanship Board. The chairmanship order for tomorrow's group meeting belongs to CHP Deputy Group Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır.
The authority to call group meetings is defined as "Those authorized to call the Group General Assembly to a meeting are the Group Chairman, the Group Executive Board, and at least one-fifth of the Group members. In this case, the meeting day, time, and agenda are announced to members at least one day in advance by appropriate means." This article,
