Turkiye’s major opposition re-elects chief forward of key courtroom ruling

Turkiye’s major opposition re-elected Ozgur Ozel as chief on Sunday (September 21, 2025) at a rare congress known as in a bid to defend him and different social gathering chiefs from a courtroom ruling subsequent month that might order their ouster.

An Ankara courtroom is about to rule over whether or not to annul the 2023 congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) the place Mr. Ozel was elected chairman over alleged irregularities, a case authorities critics say highlights Turkey’s slide in the direction of autocracy beneath President Tayyip Erdogan. The ruling, which is being intently watched in monetary markets, had been anticipated earlier in September however was delayed till October 24.

Of 917 votes solid at Sunday’s CHP gathering, 835 had been deemed legitimate and all went to Mr. Ozel, the social gathering mentioned.

By securing a contemporary mandate from social gathering delegates, CHP officers hope to cut back the danger that the upcoming courtroom ruling on the 2023 congress might unseat Mr. Ozel.

Twelve CHP members, together with jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – Erdogan’s greatest political rival – face costs that vary from providing delegates money and jobs to violating Turkiye’s political events legislation. All deny wrongdoing.

The courtroom rejected prosecutors’ requests to droop Mr. Ozel and his administration within the meantime.

Mr. Ozel has risen to prominence since Imamoglu’s detention in March, rising as Erdogan’s subsequent greatest rival.

Mr. Erdogan, whose ruling AK Party has dominated Turkish politics for greater than twenty years, has repeatedly attacked the CHP over the allegations, calling final yr’s vote “tainted” and a “fraudulent process”.

The CHP is the most important opposition drive in parliament and controls Turkiye’s largest cities, together with Istanbul and Ankara.