Why did only the opposition CHP have primary elections in Turkey?

Only one party in the Turkish parliament had primary elections to determine its candidates for the June 7 general elections: The social democratic main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP).

This was actually the first time in many years that the CHP has held primaries. And the process did not cover all of its candidates either. In only 55 cities out of 81 provinces (though in most of the major cities) members cast their votes for candidates that they wanted to represent their party in parliament.

For the remaining provinces, the CHP headquarters also held internal polls among its members, leaving a limited number of candidacy positions to be directly named by party chairman Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu.
However, no other parties - not the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), not the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and not the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) - asked their supporters in a secret vote, open count, and transparent election system.

While a handful of party officials were selecting names from applicants behind closed doors in other party HQs on March 29, hundreds and thousands of CHP members queued up at polling stations for the same purpose. This is as it should be in functioning democracies, but it is a practice that has been forgotten for many elections in Turkey - for the CHP as well.

The main reason behind K?l?çdaro?lu?s decision to hold primary elections was to be able to reform his party, with the aim of becoming a viable alternative to the AK Parti?s domination in at least the next election, if not in this upcoming one. ?My dream is to become the prime minister in order to put an end to all injustice and poverty,? he told FOX TV on March 30.

But K?l?çdaro?lu should know well that in order...