Supreme Court Nullifies CHP Leadership

The Turkish Supreme Court has declared the election of Özgür Özel as chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) void, reasserting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s influence over the country’s political landscape.

In a decision that came after an appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that validated Özel’s victory, the highest court ordered that the leadership be replaced by former party chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Özel, who took the chairmanship in 2023, appealed the ruling and has labelled the move a “judicial coup.” He vowed to continue fighting the decision in court and at the Supreme Election Council. The opposition’s executive board is similarly slated for provisional replacement.

Outrage erupted at the CHP headquarters in Ankara, where thousands of supporters gathered. Police erected barriers and reporters described a tense environment as photos of Kilicdaroglu were removed and protesters shouted at former leaders.

President Erdoğan’s administration has framed the decision as a safeguard for democratic integrity. Justice Minister Akin Gürlek, a former chief prosecutor who has pursued numerous opposition cases, said the ruling reinforced citizens’ trust in democracy.

Political observers argue the series of legal actions against CHP officials are aimed at weakening the party before the 2028 presidential election, in which Erdoğan could call for an early vote. The ruling also sends a stark message to opposition figures such as Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who remains imprisoned on corruption charges.

In the wake of the court decision, an Ankara meeting of the Supreme Election Council is scheduled to hear the CHP’s objections. Legal experts warn that challenges will likely be protracted, and there is speculation that the party may need to reorganise or even split to contest future elections.

Meanwhile, President Erdoğan ordered the closure of Istanbul-based Bilgi University, further tightening control over academic institutions. The university’s 22,000 students and 15-year faculty representative reported the abrupt shutdown as a blow to educational freedom.

The ruling, while consolidating Erdoğan’s power, has drawn criticism from international human rights groups, who see it as part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent. If overturned, the CHP may regain its executive structure, but the momentum of the ruling could leave lasting ramifications on Turkey’s political balance.