Turkish Court Removes Main Opposition Party Leader Özgür Özel in Landmark Ruling
Ankara appeals court annuls 2023 CHP congress over alleged irregularities, reinstates former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as markets plunge and opposition decries “judicial coup”
ANKARA — A Turkish appeals court has ruled to temporarily remove the leadership of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), annulling the 2023 congress that elected Özgür Özel as chairman and reinstating former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in his place .
The decision by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice struck down the results of the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Elective Congress held on November 4-5, 2023, citing “absolute nullity” and allegations of vote rigging during the leadership contest . The court further ruled that all ordinary and extraordinary congresses held after that date are retroactively invalid, along with all decisions taken during those gatherings .
The Ruling: What the Court Decided
The appeals court overturned a lower court ruling from October 2025 that had previously found the case had “no substance” . In its unanimous decision, the chamber:
- Declared the 2023 CHP congress “legally invalid due to absolute nullity”
- Ordered the temporary removal of Özel, members of the Central Executive Board, Party Assembly members, and High Disciplinary Board members who assumed office following the contested congress
- Ordered the temporary reinstatement of Kılıçdaroğlu and the party organs that existed before the 38th Congress
- Ruled that the reinstated leadership should continue their duties until the decision becomes final
- Annulled the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress held on October 8, 2023, along with all its decisions
The case was originally brought by a former party member and has centered on allegations that delegates were bribed to vote for Özel during the leadership contest . The CHP has the right to appeal the ruling to the Court of Cassation within two weeks .
CHP Rejects Ruling: “An Attempted Coup Through the Judiciary”
The CHP leadership responded with defiance, rejecting the court’s decision as politically motivated and illegal.
“This is an attempted coup carried out through the judiciary — a blow against the will of 86 million people,” Ali Mahir Başarır, CHP deputy parliamentary group chair, told Reuters .
CHP Deputy Chairman Gökhan Zeybek struck a similar tone, stating that “all decisions taken by courts acting on instructions [from the government] are null and void as far as we are concerned” .
Özel himself appeared before thousands of supporters gathered outside CHP headquarters in Ankara, declaring that he had no intention of leaving the building. “I am here, I am in this building, and I am not going anywhere,” he told the crowd .
“I will protect what was entrusted to us. Just as we protected Saraçhane (the location of Istanbul Municipality headquarters), we will protect our party headquarters,” Özel said, adding that the party had already filed its first appeal to the Supreme Court and would also appeal to the Supreme Election Council .
Özel called for early elections, arguing that the ruling party is “only afraid of the street” .
Kılıçdaroğlu Urges Calm: “Our Party Is Very Large”
The reinstated former chairman, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who led the CHP from 2010 to 2023, struck a more conciliatory tone, calling for party unity and calm.
“Our party is a very large party and it will solve its own problems internally,” Kılıçdaroğlu told broadcaster TV100 . He asked that the sentence not become a “cause of division” internally but rather an “opportunity,” and invited “everyone to serenity and shared common sense” .
Kılıçdaroğlu, 77, was ousted as CHP leader following his loss to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential elections, after a 13-year tenure during which the CHP failed to win any national elections .
İmamoğlu Speaks: “A Blow Against Democracy”
Imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who remains the CHP’s official presidential candidate for elections currently scheduled for 2028, issued a statement condemning the ruling.
“The decision made is null and void. It is not just a blow against the CHP; it is a blow against Turkey, against democracy, against the Republic. It is destroying the constitutional order,” İmamoğlu warned .
İmamoğlu has been imprisoned since March 2025 on corruption charges that he and his party deny. He has been repeatedly shown in polls to be capable of defeating Erdoğan in a national election .
It remains unclear whether the court’s ruling invalidates İmamoğlu’s candidature, which was decided at a party primary in March 2025 .
Government Response: “Reinforces Citizens’ Trust in Democracy”
Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who oversaw several cases against the CHP in his former role as Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, defended the court’s independence.
The ruling “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy,” Gürlek said . The government insists that Turkey’s courts are impartial and act independently of political pressure, despite opposition accusations to the contrary .
Political Context: A Pattern of Judicial Interventions
The court ruling comes amid what observers describe as an unprecedented judicial crackdown on the CHP since the party’s sweeping victories in the 2024 local elections, when it supplanted Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as the most popular political force in the country .
Since those elections:
- Hundreds of CHP members and elected officials have been detained as part of corruption charges that the party denies
- More than 20 CHP mayors have been arrested on corruption, bribery, and terrorism charges
- In September, a court removed the CHP’s Istanbul leadership over corruption allegations and appointed a trustee
- Authorities have detained the mayor of Bursa, Turkey’s fourth-largest city, on corruption charges
- A probe has been launched against Ankara’s popular mayor, Mansur Yavaş, over alleged misuse of state resources
The CHP, founded by Turkish national figure Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, had largely been spared the kind of state interference that affected smaller left-leaning and pro-Kurdish parties — until recently .
Market Reaction: Stocks Plunge, Bonds Sell Off
The court ruling triggered immediate turbulence in Turkish financial markets, which were already strained by the fallout of the ongoing Iran war .
| Market Indicator | Movement |
|---|---|
| Borsa Istanbul 100 Index | Dropped 6.1%, triggering market-wide circuit breaker |
| Turkish government bonds | Sold off as much as 1.2 cents — largest fall since late March |
| Five-year credit default swaps | Rose 12 basis points to 253 basis points |
| Turkish lira | Largely unchanged at 45.61 per US dollar |
The ruling is expected to put further pressure on Turkish assets, which have already been strained as monetary authorities offloaded almost all of the country’s US Treasuries in March to support the lira .
What This Means for Turkey’s Political Future
The court ruling has significant implications for Turkey’s political landscape ahead of the next presidential election, currently scheduled for 2028 but widely expected to be called earlier .
Potential Impact on CHP Unity
Kılıçdaroğlu remains a divisive figure within the CHP, having lost to Erdoğan in 2023 after failing to win any national elections during his 13-year tenure . His reinstatement could trigger internal conflict and infighting, weakening the opposition’s ability to present a united front against Erdoğan .
The İmamoğlu Factor
İmamoğlu’s imprisonment — now lasting more than a year — has already deprived the CHP of its most charismatic and electable figure. The court ruling adds another layer of uncertainty, as it remains unclear whether İmamoğlu’s candidature, confirmed in a March 2025 party primary, remains valid .
Early Election Prospects
Özel has called for early elections, and Erdoğan retains the constitutional authority to call a vote before the scheduled 2028 date . The CHP currently runs roughly even with Erdoğan’s AK Party in polls .
A Test of Democracy
The case has been widely described as a test of Turkey’s “shaky balance between democracy and autocracy” . For the CHP and its supporters, the ruling represents an “attempted coup through the judiciary” . For the government, it represents the proper functioning of an independent judiciary .
What Comes Next
The CHP has already filed its first appeal to the Supreme Court and will also appeal to the Supreme Election Council . A final decision from the Court of Cassation could take weeks or months.
In the meantime, two parallel leadership structures now claim legitimacy: Özel and his team, who remain physically present at CHP headquarters and have vowed not to leave ; and Kılıçdaroğlu and his allies, whom the court has ordered reinstated .
The coming days will determine whether the CHP can maintain unity in the face of the ruling — or whether the opposition descends into internal conflict at a moment when it faces its most sustained judicial pressure in decades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What did the Turkish court rule regarding the CHP leadership?
A: The Ankara Regional Court of Appeal annulled the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held in November 2023, removing current chairman Özgür Özel and his administration. The court ordered the temporary reinstatement of former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the party organs that existed before the contested congress .
Q2: Why did the court annul the 2023 CHP congress?
A: The court cited “absolute nullity” due to allegations of vote rigging and irregularities during the leadership contest in which Özel was elected . The case was originally brought by a former party member who alleged that delegates were bribed to vote for Özel .
Q3: Can the CHP appeal the court’s ruling?
A: Yes. The CHP has the right to appeal to the Court of Cassation within two weeks . Özel has confirmed that the party has already filed its first appeal to the Supreme Court .
Q4: How has Özgür Özel responded to the ruling?
A: Özel has rejected the ruling as illegal and declared that he will not leave CHP headquarters. He appeared before thousands of supporters in Ankara, stating, “I am here, I am in this building, and I am not going anywhere” .
Q5: What has been the market reaction to the ruling?
A: Turkish stocks plunged, with the Borsa Istanbul 100 Index dropping 6.1% and triggering a market-wide circuit breaker. Government bonds sold off sharply, while the lira remained relatively stable .
Q6: How does this affect İmamoğlu’s presidential candidacy?
A: It remains unclear whether the ruling invalidates İmamoğlu’s candidature, which was confirmed at a party primary in March 2025. İmamoğlu has been imprisoned since March 2025 on corruption charges that he and his party deny .
Q7: Is this the first time the CHP has faced judicial intervention?
A: No. Since the CHP’s sweeping victories in the 2024 local elections, the party has faced an unprecedented judicial crackdown. Hundreds of members and elected officials have been detained, more than 20 CHP mayors have been arrested, and the CHP’s Istanbul leadership was previously removed and replaced with a trustee .
Q8: When is the next presidential election in Turkey?
A: The next presidential election is currently scheduled for 2028, but President Erdoğan has the authority to call an early vote. Some observers expect the election to be held in 2027 .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on the CHP’s appeal, political developments in Turkey, and any further judicial rulings affecting the main opposition party.