Turkish Court Annuls 2023 CHP Congress for Violating Party Bylaws

A Turkish court removed Ozgur Ozel as leader of the Republican People's Party on May 21 and annulled the party's 2023 congress, reinstating Kemal Kilicdaroglu as chairman. Ozgur Ozel addressed a crowd estimated in the tens of thousands outside the CHP's Ankara provincial office on May 30.

After the speeches, he led a peaceful march through the capital to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey and the CHP.

A person waved a Turkish flag bearing Ataturk's image as the group reached the site. Kemal Kilicdaroglu visited CHP headquarters for the first time since the May 21 ruling. He pledged to purge the party of corruption in cases involving CHP-run municipalities.

Kilicdaroglu said a congress would be held "as soon as possible" but did not provide a specific date. Ozgur Ozel told the crowd the dispute extended beyond party lines. "This is not an internal matter for the CHP," he said.

Ozel stated the court decision did not legitimise Kilicdaroglu's leadership and called for an immediate party congress. Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas joined the protest on May 30 and also called for a congress. Mansur Yavas is viewed within the CHP as an alternative presidential candidate to jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who remains Erdogan's biggest political rival.

The ousted leadership denies the corruption allegations, calling them politically motivated.