Overview
- An Ankara appellate court voided the CHP’s late-2023 leadership election, citing pressure on delegates, promises of recruitment and alleged buying of votes, and ordered Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu returned as party head.
- Current leader Özgür Özel publicly refused to step down and called for continued resistance, while supporters gathered to protest outside the CHP headquarters and the party convened an emergency meeting.
- The decision triggered a sharp market reaction with the BIST100 index falling more than 6% at the close and prompted officials to try to reassure investors.
- The ruling follows a year and a half of judicial actions targeting CHP officials and municipalities, including the long-running prosecution and imprisonment of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges he denies.
- Opposition outlets condemned the move as a blow to democracy and analysts warn the intervention could weaken the main opposition ahead of the 2028 presidential vote and deepen political uncertainty for ordinary citizens.