A Turkish court has postponed a decision on whether to annul the Republican People’s Party (CHP) congress that elected Ozgur Ozel as chairman, extending political uncertainty at a moment of heightened tensions. The Ankara court adjourned the case until October 24, leaving the fate of Turkey’s largest opposition party unresolved.
The case is largely centered on allegations of irregularities during the CHP’s 38th congress in 2023, when Ozel defeated long-time leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The plaintiffs assert that procedural violations and even vote-buying marred the leadership vote, a claim the CHP has rejected. Party lawyers argued that only Turkey‘s Supreme Election Board possesses the jurisdiction to rule on such internal matters.
The stakes are significant. If the court annuls Congress, Ozel could lose his title, allowing trustees to oversee the party or Kilicdaroglu to be reinstated.
The legal dispute comes alongside growing pressure on the CHP across multiple fronts. Prosecutors have expanded investigations into the party since October last year, while municipalities controlled by the opposition have seen a wave of arrests. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, regarded as a leading challenger to Erdogan, is among those detained. His pre-trial detention on graft charges earlier this year triggered nationwide protests.
Rejecting claims of political motivation, the government maintains the independence of Turkey’s judiciary.
Markets have also closely followed the developments. Turkish assets dipped sharply as Imamoglu was jailed in March but steadied after Monday’s adjournment. Analysts noted that investors remain cautious about Turkey’s political climate, indicating that uncertainty remains unresolved.
Speaking at a rally in Ankara on Sunday, Ozel described the legal process as a “judicial coup,” vowing to resist attempts to undermine Turkey’s oldest political party. His supporters argue that the case signals a shift toward greater restrictions on opposition activity, while government officials point to last year’s local elections, where the CHP won major cities, as evidence that Turkey remains a competitive democracy.
For now, the court’s decision has been delayed, but the outcome could reconstruct Turkey’s politics and the leadership of its main opposition force.
