CHP Burdur Provincial Chair Barış Ayten: We Are Not Leaving the Building, Let Them Come!

Republican People's Party (CHP) Burdur Provincial Chair Barış Ayten has launched a fierce resistance against the dismissal process initiated against him. Receiving the full backing of Deputy İzzet Akbulut, mayors, and district organizations, Ayten announced that he has initiated a form of civil disobedience by refusing to leave the party's provincial building. Addressing his supporters with the slogan "There is no salvation alone, either all of us or none of us," Ayten stated that they will not bow down to the unlawful decisions of the general headquarters. This crisis reveals a deep division and tension within the party's Burdur organization. Ayten's determined stance exposes the dimensions of an intra-party conflict that has also found broad resonance on the Turkey agenda.

At the core of the crisis lies the attempt to unlawfully dismiss Ayten and his administration. Raising his provincial chairmanship certificate towards the crowd to emphasize legitimacy, Ayten stressed that they did not obtain this authority arbitrarily. According to his statements, this certificate was obtained when 7,600 party members in Burdur went to the polls to democratically elect neighborhood delegates and subsequently provincial delegates. Reminding that a convention was held and the provincial administration was formed as a result of this legitimate process, Ayten noted that the same delegates elected Özgür Özel as the general chair at the party congress. Ayten stated that they will not accept the arbitrary dismissal of an administration elected by the votes of the party members and that they will never surrender to this decision.

Barış Ayten not only defended his legitimacy but also reminded of the political achievements they attained during their approximately eight-month tenure. He stated that together with 20 administrative board members, they left no place in Burdur unvisited and struggled in the field day and night. Drawing attention to the momentum they gained in local politics, Ayten claimed that despite being a minority of 11 people, they dismantled the 15-member Cumhur İttifakı (People's Alliance), making a significant political move in the region. He proudly stated that thanks to this strategic move, they won the Provincial General Assembly Chairmanship election. Arguing that these successes were achieved not through their inaction but through determination and sacrifice, Ayten continued to criticize the general headquarters administration.

Detailing his political career and party history, Ayten also used an emotional language, stating that he served in every rank by scratching with his own fingernails. Reminding that he worked in all echelons of the party, from the youth branch chairmanship to the provincial chairmanship, Ayten stated that what he experienced during this process is a matter of pride. He stated that the dismissal process he faces is not a punishment for him, but a badge of honor he can leave to his children. Stating that he named his two sons Mustafa Kemal and Ata, Ayten expressed that being dismissed by this mindset is a source of pride. These remarks drew attention as they highlighted his deep loyalty to the founding values of the party and the principles of Atatürk.

While all eyes turned to the party's provincial building following the events, Ayten took an extremely clear and action-oriented step by issuing an ultimatum. He declared that they will continue their struggle until they make the party the first party in Burdur under the leadership of General Chair Özgür Özel. As of today, he announced that he, his colleagues, and the members will not leave the provincial building and will continue their duties there. Confronting those who made the decision with a massive challenge, Ayten displayed a bold attitude, saying, "If they can, let them enter through this door." Emphasizing that as soldiers of Atatürk they will not stop, they will not get tired, nor will they sleep, Ayten thanked his supporters and heralded that their epic struggle will continue.