Turkish Court Ousts CHP Leader Ozgur Ozel in Judicial Crisis

A May 21, 2026, ruling by the Ankara Regional Court of Justice declared the Republican People’s Party (CHP) 2023 leadership congress an absolute nullity, removing Ozgur Ozel and reinstating former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The court cited voting irregularities and vote-buying, while also annulling a September 2025 extraordinary congress. The decision triggered immediate financial volatility, with the Turkish lira hitting record lows and the central bank spending approximately $6 billion to stabilize the currency.

Following a three-day standoff, Turkish riot police stormed the CHP headquarters in Ankara on May 24, using tear gas and rubber bullets to evict Ozel and his supporters. Ozel condemned the operation as a judicial coup and a politically motivated attempt by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to neutralize the opposition ahead of the 2028 elections. He subsequently led thousands of supporters in protest marches to the Turkish parliament and Ataturk's mausoleum, and organized a rally in Izmir that was dispersed by water cannons.

Kilicdaroglu, who resumed provisional leadership, promised a transparent party congress and pledged to purge corruption within the party. In contrast, Ozel demanded an immediate primary election, challenging Kilicdaroglu to a contest. This crisis occurs alongside broader legal pressure on the CHP, including the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. While Justice Minister Akin Gurlek defended the ruling as a reinforcement of democracy, Human Rights Watch characterized the government's actions as abusive tactics undermining the rule of law.