Ankara, 21 May 2026
An Ankara court on Thursday ordered the removal of Özgür Özel as leader of Turkey's main opposition CHP party, a move critics say strengthens President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's grip on power.
The court ruled that Özel's 2023 election as party leader was invalid due to alleged vote-buying, according to state news agency Anadolu. It ordered the party to revert to its pre-2023 leadership under Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Özel immediately vowed to resist the decision, stating he would remain in the party headquarters 'day and night'. 'As long as it's not CHP members but AKP judicial authorities deciding who leads CHP, I'm staying right here,' he wrote on X.
The ruling comes after CHP's surprising success in 2024 local elections, where it won more mayoral seats than Erdogan's AKP party. Political analysts suggest the court decision aims to weaken the opposition before upcoming national elections.
What's New Since Yesterday
EU officials expressed concern, with a spokesperson for foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating the ruling 'raises questions about rule of law, fundamental rights, democratic pluralism and judicial independence'.
Turkish political scientist Berk Esen called the decision 'unprecedented in our administrative law and political history since 1946', warning it could set a dangerous precedent for judicial interference in party leadership.
Protests erupted outside CHP headquarters in Ankara, with party supporters chanting slogans against what they called government overreach. Several bar associations across Turkey denounced the ruling as unlawful.
The stock market reacted sharply to the news, with Istanbul's BIST 100 index falling over 6%. Economists suggest the political uncertainty could worsen Turkey's economic challenges, including inflation above 32%.
International Reaction
This marks the latest in a series of moves against opposition figures. Istanbul's former mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been in pretrial detention since 2025 on charges critics call politically motivated.
President Erdogan, 72, is expected to run again in the next presidential election. Opposition leaders warn the court's decision could extend his 23-year rule by weakening political alternatives.
The CHP, Turkey's oldest political party founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, has historically served as the main opposition to Erdogan's AKP. Under Özel's leadership, it had been gaining popularity in recent polls.
Political Context
International observers are closely watching the developments. A German CDU politician commented that such decisions 'contradict Turkey's stated commitment to EU membership'.
Legal experts note this case represents a significant escalation in Turkey's political tensions, as courts have never before removed an opposition party's elected leadership.
The CHP has announced plans to appeal the decision, with Özel calling it 'a matter for the entire nation' rather than just his party. Supporters have pledged to continue protests.
What Happens Next
Analysts suggest the coming days will test both the opposition's resilience and the government's tolerance for dissent, with potential implications for Turkey's democratic institutions.