ALBAWABA- A Turkish appeals court has annulled the 2023 leadership election of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), removing party leader Özgür Özel from office and ordering the provisional reinstatement of former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a ruling that has intensified political tensions across Turkey.
The decision, issued by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice, declared the CHP’s November 2023 congress legally invalid under the doctrine of “absolute nullity,” citing allegations of vote manipulation and irregularities during the party leadership election.
The lawsuit was brought by a group of party delegates, including former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş, who accused party officials of influencing delegates through pressure, financial incentives, and promises of political appointments.
The court ruled that the alleged violations undermined democratic procedures and public order, invalidating not only the 2023 congress but also subsequent extraordinary party meetings held under the current leadership.
Under the ruling, the CHP leadership structure must temporarily revert to its pre-2023 status, effectively restoring Kılıçdaroğlu as party chairman unless he declines the position. In that case, authorities could appoint a temporary trustee to oversee the party until a new congress is held.
The verdict triggered immediate turmoil inside Turkey’s largest opposition party and shook financial markets, with trading on the BIST 100 temporarily halted after the benchmark index fell more than 6 percent. Özel rejected the ruling and convened an emergency meeting of CHP lawmakers in Ankara, describing the decision as a politically motivated intervention against the opposition.
Senior CHP official Gökhan Zeybek also condemned the court ruling, saying the party would not recognize what he called an illegitimate judicial move.
Kılıçdaroğlu, however, adopted a more conciliatory tone, urging supporters to remain calm and avoid internal divisions.
“The Republican People’s Party is not a place for personal political struggles, but a symbol of the nation’s sovereignty,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in a statement calling for unity and restraint.
Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç defended the court’s decision, saying that any distortion of the will was unacceptable in a democratic system. He added that the ruling could still be appealed before Turkey’s Court of Cassation. The decision comes amid mounting pressure on Turkey’s opposition following the CHP’s strong performance in the 2024 local elections.
