Özgür Çelik, the district head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s Istanbul branch, has been removed from office by a Turkish court following allegations of irregularities in the party’s 2023 leadership selection process.

In addition to Çelik, the decision also removed the CHP’s entire Istanbul top brass that formed Çelik’s administration.

Gürsel Tekin, another CHP member from a competing wing of the party, was installed in Çelik’s place. Following his appointment Tuesday, Tekin told reporters:

“I will do everything I can to keep the CHP out of the courthouse. Our party is not being transferred to a trustee. We will lead the CHP to a party congress in unity and solidarity. All the members of my delegation are CHP members. The CHP is our home, our nest, our everything. Rest assured: the CHP will be governed by CHP members.”

Prosecutors are requesting a three-year prison sentence for Çelik due to his alleged involvement in leadership selection irregularities.

For months, Turkey’s largest opposition party has been threatened with the possibility that its current leadership would........

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