Republican People’s Party (CHP) Vice Chairman Muharrem Erkek on Thursday announced that party dissidents would not be able to collect enough signatures from party delegates to force the holding of an emergency convention to change the top management of the party, the Cumhuriyet daily reported.
“However, an examination of their petition is underway,” Erkek told reporters during a press conference at party headquarters.
The party’s board will examine the petition submitted on Monday as well as the authenticity of signatures before reaching a decision.
A spokesperson for the dissidents, CHP deputy Gaye Usluer, earlier today stated that they had collected 630 signatures, five more than the required number.
A rumor was circulated by the CHP’s former presidential candidate, Muharrem İnce, that some delegates had withdrawn their signatures at the urging of the executive board.
İnce emerged as a strong rival to party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu by garnering 30 percent of the vote in the presidential election on June 24.
He had twice challenged Kılıçdaroğlu at conventions but was never able to oust him.
