Turkish opposition fights court ousting of leaders in ruling boosting Erdogan

An appeals court in Ankara overturned a lower court's decision, voiding Özgür Özel's victory as leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP). The ruling reinstates Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was previously defeated by President Erdogan in the 2023 presidential election and then voted out as party leader. This decision also invalidates the party's current executive and its decisions. Özel condemned the ruling as a "judicial coup," while other party officials suggested the aim was to divide and weaken the opposition. The ruling comes amid accusations that President Erdogan's party is working to eliminate rivals, and follows the closure of Istanbul's Bilgi University by presidential order.

An Ankara court has overturned the results of the Republican People's Party's (CHP) 2023 leadership election, naming former chair Kemal Kilicdaroglu as interim leader. This ruling invalidates the victory of current party head Ozgur Ozel. The decision comes amidst a series of actions targeting the CHP, Turkey's oldest political party, which recently achieved significant success in the 2024 local elections. The CHP has denounced the ruling as an "attempted coup," while the government stated it reinforces faith in the rule of law. This development could potentially destabilize the opposition and benefit President Erdogan's ruling AK Party.

An Ankara court has annulled the 2023 leadership election of Turkey's main opposition CHP party. The ruling, reported by state news agency Anadolu, overturns the election that brought Ozgur Ozel to power. The court has ordered that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the former long-term chairman who lost the election to Ozel, assume interim leadership. In response to this development, the CHP party has called for its senior membership to convene at its Ankara headquarters. This court decision represents a significant development for the opposition.