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Fallout following Turkey’s main opposition party leadership removal

25 Mayıs 2026 Pazartesi

ANKARA(Medyascope) – On Thursday (May 21), an Ankara court ordered the removal of Özgür Özel, chairman of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), as well as his party top-brass. The ruling temporarily reinstated the CHP’s former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who led the party from 2011-2023.

By Leo Kendrick • Medyascope

The Ankara court’s ruling concerns a CHP party congress in November 2023, in which Özel defeated Kılıçdaroğlu to claim the party chairmanship following the latter’s loss to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey’s 2023 presidential election. 

Several Kılıçdaroğlu-aligned CHP members alleged bribes and vote-rigging in the CHP’s party congress that saw Özel take over party leadership, requesting Özel be removed and an ‘absolute nullification’ (mutlak butlan) declared on all party decisions taken over the past 2.5 years. 

The prospect of a mutlak butlan-type ruling has been discussed throughout Özel’s tenure, leading to repeated party congresses aimed at legitimizing the chairman’s leadership over the party. 

Özel and Özel-aligned members of the CHP– making up the vast majority of the party base and parliamentary caucus– have denied the charges of vote-rigging and accused Kılıçdaroğlu of conspiring with President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in a bid to return to power. 

Domestic and international analysts have described the latest attack on the CHP leadership as a bid by Erdoğan’s party to capture Turkey’s main opposition party and transform the country’s political system from a semi-competitive authoritarian regime into a Russia-style consolidated autocracy with a rubber-stamp parliament. 

Police evacuated CHP’s headquarters in Ankara by force (24 May 2026, Özgecan Özgenç, Medyascope)

Fallout following Turkey’s main opposition party leadership removal

Police forcibly enter CHP HQ

Protests outside the CHP’s central headquarters in Ankara began Thursday evening following the announcement of the court’s decision removing Özel. 

Throughout the day Friday and Saturday, Özel and his leadership remained within the headquarters building, appearing to pursue a style of resistance reminiscent of March 2025, when Özel and CHP officials bunkered down at Istanbul’s Saraçhane city hall amidst major protests following the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. 

Midday Sunday, however, riot police amassed outside the party’s Ankara headquarters and forcibly entered the building, breaking down barriers and shooting rubber bullets and tear gas towards resisting party members inside. Following a long siege, Özel exited his 12th-story office, leaving the headquarters and leading a march to the Turkish Parliament across town.

During the rainy walk to the parliament building, Özel climbed on top of a water cannon vehicle used by riot police and addressed supporters.

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© Medyascope