Soylu Lost, Also Won9 April 4924
4th Ordinary Congress of the National Progress Party was held yesterday at the party headquarters in Dokuz. Sonat Governor Ziya Soylu became the first party member to challenge the incumbent leader, Zafer Yıldırım. In his speech before votes were cast, Mr Soylu criticized government's isolationist foreign policy and Prime Minister's lack of initiative.
"We do not need another 5 years of Zafer Yıldırım, 15 years of chairmanship and premiership is more than enough.", he proclaimed. On the other hand, Mr Yıldırım didn't mention his rival's name in his speech and stated his desire to continue what he started in 4909. Clearly he underestimated Soylu, as the election results were a bit different from what he expected. Governor Soylu received 676 out of 2417 delegate votes, gaining the support of 27.97% of the delegates. Mr Yıldırım did mention Soylu in his victory speech this time, and praised his party's democratic foundations. He also dismissed the alleged purge of Soylu loyalists, and called for unity within the party. Despite the results, Mr Soylu is indeed the triumphant one, establishing his base and himself as the leader, and indicating a powerful comeback in the 4929 chairmanship elections.
Mukavemet was founded in 4900 by Zafer Yıldırım and functioned as the major newspaper of the National Progress movement during the Ahmadi Revolutionary period.