The Turkish judiciary is changing the leadership of the main opposition party in a new blow to Erdogan's opponents
A Turkish appeals court has removed Ozgur Ozel from the leadership of the Republican People's Party (CHP), canceling the 2023 congress in which he was elected as the party's president.
The decision, described by Reuters as a blow to opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and financial markets, cancels the 2023 congress citing irregularities.
The court ruled that Ozel should be replaced as CHP leader by his predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a controversial figure in the party who lost the 2023 presidential election to Erdogan.
In September 2025, the CHP met in an extraordinary congress and cast a major vote of support for Ozgur Ozel, 835 out of 917 cast, in an attempt to protect him from a possible adverse decision by the judiciary in this case. Party officials hoped that by obtaining a new mandate from the delegates, the risk of being removed from the leadership of the party by the judiciary would be reduced.
Wave of investigations against the CHP
The CHP, which polls tie with the AKP, Erdogan's party, has been targeted by an unprecedented judicial crackdown since 2024, in which hundreds of members and elected officials have been detained over corruption allegations the party denies.
Among those targeted by the files is the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, considered the main rival of President Erdogan, who remains the CHP's official candidate for the next presidential election. The poll is scheduled for 2028, but could take place next year.
After the court's decision, Ozel summoned party leaders to discuss possible measures, and members were summoned to CHP headquarters in Ankara to protest the judges' decision.
“An Attempted Coup”
Ali Mahir Basarir, vice chairman of the CHP parliamentary group, told Reuters the decision “is an attempted coup carried out through the judicial system” and “a blow against the will of 86 million people”.
He said the party rejects the decision, accusing those who signed it of being “complicit in this coup attempt and will be held accountable in the courts.”
