Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party is facing a deepening internal crisis after Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s press adviser announced that the former CHP leader will visit the party’s headquarters in Ankara on 28 May.
Atakan Sönmez said Kılıçdaroğlu would meet party officials and citizens for the traditional Bayram greetings and deliver a speech, following the court decision declaring the CHP’s 2023 leadership congress an “absolute nullity”. The ruling by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice temporarily removed Özgür Özel and the current party administration, reinstating Kılıçdaroğlu and the previous leadership team.
The announcement came after serious unrest at the CHP headquarters in Ankara, where supporters of Özel and Kılıçdaroğlu clashed during efforts to clear the building. Riot police forced their way into the headquarters after party members and supporters blocked entrances in defiance of the ruling. Following the police operation, Özel left the party headquarters and went to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, where he said he would hold meetings with party officials to assess the next steps.
A further symbolic change was recorded in parliament after the court decision, with the sign outside Özel’s office reportedly altered. The title “CHP Chair” was removed and replaced with “CHP Parliamentary Group Chair”.
The court decision was also formally posted at the entrance of the party’s headquarters.
Protests in Istanbul after police operation
Demonstrations were held in three districts of Istanbul after the police intervention at the CHP headquarters in Ankara.
Following a call by the CHP’s provincial organisation, gatherings and marches took place in Kadıköy, Beyoğlu and Bahçelievler, with slogans against the government and in support of Özgür Özel. In a statement read on behalf of 39 local party organisations, CHP representatives described the developments as an attempt to divide the opposition and interfere in the party’s leadership.
Istanbul deputy mayor Nuri Aslan described the police intervention as damaging for democracy and called for an extraordinary congress to be held within 45 days.
Source: CNA
