Left of the center is not socialism
Convened between October 18 and 21, 1966, the 18th CHP Convention adopted the vision “left of the center” İsmet İnönü articulated during an interview he gave to journalist Abdi İpekçi in July 1965 as the official political line of the party.
The convention witnessed a cutthroat struggle between advocates and opponents of this stance. Delivering the opening address of the Convention, İnönü noted that being left of the center did not imply socialism adding, “CHP is not and will not be a socialist party.”
Receiving 929 votes out of 1,222 delegates, İnönü reclaimed his seat as party president. The Party Council, on the other hand, comprised of 19 pro left of center, 11 anti left of center, and 8 neutral members.
