MHP Kocaeli Sancaklı claim: Intervention in district chairmanships with 'İzzet's man' justification

It is claimed that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Kocaeli Deputy Saffet Sancaklı played an active role in the recent changes and dismissals within the party's organizational structure. Sancaklı had previously maintained a distant stance by not interfering much in intra-party matters during the periods of Tuncay Batı and Kamil Akın. However, after the dismissal of two provincial chairmen, Sancaklı settled back into the center of the political arena and became an influential figure in the process of appointing a new provincial chairman. It is stated that he made a great effort to ensure that Enes Emengen sat in the MHP Kocaeli Provincial Chairmanship and tried to reshape the party dynamics during this process. These developments are interpreted as Saffet Sancaklı wanting to increase his control over the organization now, in contrast to his passive attitude in the past.

Immediately after taking office, the newly appointed Provincial Chairman Enes Emengen dismissed 8 district chairmen and reappointed only 4 of them, which caused serious discussions and dissatisfaction within the party. In particular, the changes experienced in the western part of the province were met with great reaction, and the base began to give signals of division. Emengen's harsh and radical attitude created an atmosphere of serious silence and dissatisfaction in district organizations, while it was emphasized that those brought in to replace the changed ones brought up the issue of transparency. The inadequacy of concrete reasons regarding why and for what reason the district chairmen were changed stands out as a factor that further disrupts the intra-party peace.

Complaints and allegations that Saffet Sancaklı is the decision-making authority and effective power in the dismissals are focusing the arrows on the MHP Kocaeli Deputy. According to information obtained and claims in the political corridors, Sancaklı intervened directly in the change process of district chairmanships and determined the names one by one. It is claimed that Sancaklı's signature was on the decision to dismiss the chairmen of critical districts such as Darıca, Çayırova, Gebze, and Dilovası, and that he wanted the cadres in these regions to be renewed. This situation shows that the deputy is trying to strengthen his position not just as an observer, but as the architect of the organization.

The most striking and controversial justification for Sancaklı's requests for changes in these districts is considered to be the use of the expression "These are İzzet's men" by opinion leaders. Among the claims are the allegations that the purge and cleansing process that started in the party after the resignation of MHP Deputy Chairman İzzet Ulvi Yönter is desired to be reflected in the Kocaeli organization as well. In the conversations within the party, it is frequently mentioned that Sancaklı is trying to create his own staff by removing names known to be close to Yönter or seen on his side from the list in a non-transparent manner.

According to claims, Saffet Sancaklı, who succeeded in turning this political ground and the purge process that developed after İzzet Ulvi Yönter's resignation in his favor, aims to completely transform the organization into the structure he wants. Sancaklı, who advocates the view that the effect of Yönter should be reduced and the road should continue with a new staff structure, is claimed to have redesigned the district chairmanships through Emengen to implement this strategy. This situation is evaluated as a harbinger of future internal polarization and power struggles within the party, and the path the Kocaeli organization will follow from now on remains a matter of curiosity.