General Secretary – Kemal Okuyan
Born in 1962, Kemal Okuyan spent his childhood and youth in Ankara and Izmir. After attending İzmir Bornova Anatolian High School, he graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Political Sciences.
Joining the struggle for socialism in the ranks of the Workers’ Party of Turkey, Okuyan became active in the political group around the Socialist Power journal that was published in 1980. His first articles were published in this
journal. He is among the first members of the editorial board of Gelenek (Tradition) that started its publication life in 1986 as the result of a period of struggle.
Okuyan, who was among the leading cadre of the movement formed around the Gelenek journal, carried out central responsibilities in the process that transformed this movement into a party. Okuyan carries out various tasks in the Party for Socialist Turkey (STP) that was formed as a result of this process as well as the Party for Socialist Power (SİP) that was founded following the closure of STP. After SİP became the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) on November 11, 2001, Okuyan served in the TKP as a member of the Central Committee as well as in various central roles. Okuyan is currently the General Secretary of the TKP.
Okuyan is one of the columnists of the Internet news portal soL and a regular contributor to Gelenek, the monthly theoretical publication of the TKP. In addition to co-authoring numerous books, Okuyan has also written eight books, namely, The Early Years of Soviet foreign policy, The Book of “What is to be Done”’ers, Understanding Stalin, Socialism’s quest for power in Turkey, Anti-Thesis on the dissolution of the Soviet Union, The Left cornered between Ergenekon and the AKP, The Patriotism test for Turkey’s left, and Under the shadow of the revolution: Berlin-Warsaw-Ankara 1920.
Some articles by Kemal Okuyan for the theoretical journal of the Party (Gelenek)
Central Committee
The Central Committee is the highest organ of the Communist Party of Turkey’s between two Congresses. The Central Committee is entitled to take decisions on political and organizational issues according to the party program and principles. On some issues specified in the working principles of the Party, the Central Committee jointly exercises the authority with the Party Central Council. The Central Committee is elected by the delegates at the Party Congress. The Central Committee, which meets at least twice a month, elects a General Secretary at the first meeting among its members. The Secretary General presides over the Central Committee meetings, ensures the coordination of the work of the committee, and takes responsibility for the representation of the party.
Party Central Council
The Party Central Council assists the Central Committee on political and organizational issues, is regularly informed by the Central Committee, and takes decisions on some issues specified in the working principles. The composition of the Party Central Council, which meets every month, is determined in the Congress.
