Secularism in Turkey

The legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is still bitterly contested in today's Turkey. Approaching the centenary of the republic's establishment, the process of Westernization, secularization and modernization led by Turkey's nationalist founding father still provides the reference against which various political movements - whether sympathetic or antagonistic - define themselves. 

Turkey's social democratic main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) held its first congress since the Nov. 1, 2015 election disappointment on Jan. 16-17 in Ankara. 

Unusually, no candidate challenged CHP head Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu at the congress. Two possible candidates withdrew ahead of the congress and another was unable to gather enough support from delegates. 

Almost all journalists and party members who followed the Republican People's Party's (CHP) convention over the weekend in Ankara agreed that it was probably the most low-spirited, dull party convention held in the last decade.

'Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: Heir to an Empire' by Ryan Gingeras (Oxford University Press, 212 pages, $17)

An aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has called for the nationalization of the country's biggest private bank, ??bank, in which the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has a 28 percent stake.

Will the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) convention held over the weekend provide a renewal, a true opening to different masses?

This is the thesis of CHP leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu, who has always defended an opening to different masses; the "new CHP" phrase also belongs to him.

The administration of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was re-shaped at the party's convention over the weekend, with party leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu failing to make his mark on the party assembly.

The administration of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was re-shaped at the party's convention over the weekend, with party leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu failing to make his mark on the party assembly.

Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu was re-elected as chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for his fourth consecutive term at his the party's convention over the weekend, saying he aimed to renew the CHP's management with "more new and young faces." 

The upcoming convention of the main opposition party will set a new chapter for the social democrats as they change both their internal structuring and campaign methods, its leader has said, adding that they will immediately launch preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections after the conclusion of this weekend's party convention.