ISTANBUL — Internal turmoil within Turkey’s primary opposition political organization intensified Friday following a court decision that has created competing claims to party leadership.
A judicial panel in Ankara ruled Thursday to invalidate the Republican Peoples’ Party’s November 2023 leadership convention, where Ozgur Ozel won election to succeed former party head Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
The court’s action has temporarily removed Ozel and current executive committee members from their positions. Kilicdaroglu and officials who served prior to the November 2023 gathering will assume control on an interim basis.
Party officials contend the judicial ruling stems from political interference.
Previously, a trial court had dismissed challenges regarding voting irregularities and improper conduct during Ozel’s selection, but Thursday’s appellate decision reversed that earlier judgment.
Government representatives supported the legal challenge against the Republican Peoples’ Party, stating that party members themselves raised the corruption allegations. The most prominent complainant was former Antakya Mayor Lutfu Savas, who faced party expulsion for disciplinary violations in December 2024 before filing his lawsuit two months afterward to invalidate the leadership convention.
The party quickly challenged Thursday’s decision, but the court denied their request Friday. An evening appeal to the Supreme Election Council also failed, though the Supreme Court agreed to hear Ozel’s petition.
Friday saw Kilicdaroglu dismiss three party attorneys who had submitted the appeals. News outlets reported he began contacting previous associates to form his leadership team and updated his social media profile from “7th chairman of the CHP” to “chairman of the CHP.”
The 77-year-old Kilicdaroglu stepped down after 13 years leading the organization during which it never secured national electoral victory. In contrast, Ozel achieved significant success against Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party in his first major test during 2024’s municipal contests.
Thursday’s decision represents another significant challenge for the struggling party as it confronts numerous legal proceedings targeting its members and elected representatives.
The country’s next presidential contest is scheduled for 2028, though Erdogan retains authority to schedule an earlier vote. His primary political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from the Republican Peoples’ Party, has been incarcerated since March and faces corruption trial proceedings.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who previously handled multiple cases against the party as Istanbul’s top prosecutor, characterized the court’s action as strengthening “our citizens’ trust in democracy.”
Political analysts widely view the legal actions against the Republican Peoples’ Party — primarily involving corruption accusations — as politically driven efforts to weaken the organization before upcoming elections. Government officials maintain that Turkish courts operate independently without political influence.
Erdogan has governed Turkey since 2003, serving first as prime minister then president. His electoral dominance faced challenges in 2019 when the opposition captured control of several major urban areas. Imamoglu’s victory in Istanbul established him as an appealing leader whom many believed capable of defeating Erdogan.
