Overview
- An Ankara appeals court annulled the CHP’s November 2023 leadership vote and suspended Özgür Özel, ordering the provisional return of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a ruling issued on Thursday.
- Riot police forced their way into the CHP headquarters in Ankara on Sunday using tear gas and rubber bullets to evict Özel and dozens of supporters who had barricaded themselves inside.
- After leaving the building, Özel led supporters on a march to Parliament and vowed to take the party’s fight to the streets while the CHP has lodged appeals with higher courts.
- Security forces blocked public gatherings and used water cannon and pepper spray on Tuesday to stop an Özel rally in İzmir, and state-linked media say police detained about a dozen people in probes tied to the 2023 congress.
- The dispute has deep political stakes because critics say courts and police are being used to curb the CHP’s electoral strength, the government rejects those claims, and the episode increases the chance of an early presidential vote.