Turkish Court Removes CHP Leadership in Controversial Ruling
A Turkish court’s decision to annul the leadership of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Türkiye’s main opposition party, has sparked widespread concern over the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law. On May 21, 2026, the 36th Ankara regional court of appeal issued an interim measure to remove CHP chair Özgür Özel and the entire party leadership, effectively reinstating former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The ruling also nullified the November 2023 party congress that elected Özel, marking a significant escalation in political tensions.
Human Rights Watch Condemns the Decision
Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the court’s intervention as a “deeply damaging blow to the rule of law, democracy, and human rights” in Türkiye. Benjamin Ward, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, stated that the decision reflects broader efforts by the Erdoğan government to “sideline the main political opposition.” The organization highlighted that the court’s actions violate the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly the rights to freedom of association and free elections.
“The court’s decision to remove Özgür Özel and the entire CHP leadership is part of the Erdoğan government’s broader political efforts to undermine civil and political rights,” Ward said. “This follows the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other CHP officials on what critics describe as politically motivated charges.”
Timeline of the CHP Leadership Dispute
The conflict over CHP leadership traces back to the party’s November 2023 congress, where Özel was elected as chair. Kılıçdaroğlu, who led the CHP to its worst electoral performance in 22 years during the 2023 presidential election, had been replaced by Özel. However, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his allies began questioning the legitimacy of the election, prompting a series of legal challenges.
In October 2024, Erdoğan publicly criticized the 2023 congress, alleging irregularities. A subsequent investigation by the Ankara public prosecutor’s office in February 2025 focused on claims of “fraudulent vote-buying,” though no concrete evidence was presented. The Ankara administrative court initially dismissed the case in October 2025, citing that Özel had been re-elected in subsequent congresses. The complainants appealed, and the regional court ultimately upheld the challenge, nullifying all related elections without providing justification.
Political Implications and Reactions
The ruling has immediate consequences for the CHP, which saw a surge in popularity under Özel’s leadership. In the March 2024 local elections, the party secured 37.8% of the vote, surpassing Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the first time in two decades. The court’s decision, however, has been widely interpreted as an attempt to weaken the CHP’s political influence ahead of future elections.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who previously led investigations against CHP officials, defended the ruling as a “consolidation of citizens’ trust in democracy.” Gürlek, appointed to his current role in February 2026, has faced scrutiny for his role in earlier legal actions against the opposition.
Özel and the CHP leadership rejected the court’s decision, with Özel vowing to remain at the party headquarters and accusing the judiciary of staging a “coup against the opposition.” The party’s new leadership, under Kılıçdaroğlu, swiftly dismissed three lawyers who had represented the CHP in appeals, raising concerns about the party’s ability to challenge the ruling.
Broader Concerns for Democratic Governance
The case has reignited debates about the independence of Türkiye’s judiciary and the government’s approach to political dissent. HRW noted that the Turkish authorities have a “poor record of unlawful closure of and interference with political parties,” with the CHP’s struggles emblematic of a broader pattern of repression.
International observers have called for transparency in the ongoing criminal case against İmamoğlu and 11 others, which alleges that delegates were paid to vote for Özel at the 2023 congress. The indictment, however, relies on “vague assertions” without demonstrable evidence, according to legal experts.
As the CHP navigates this crisis, the ruling underscores the fragility of democratic institutions in Türkiye. The party’s ability to recover and mobilize will depend on its resilience in the face of legal and political pressure, while the government’s actions continue to test the boundaries of judicial independence and political pluralism.