Ankara
A Turkish court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2023 internal election, ruling there was no legal basis to annul the results or remove the current leadership.
The case sought to overturn the outcome of the CHP’s 38th congress, held in November 2023, which saw Ozgur Ozel replace long-time leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The petitioners alleged electoral fraud, vote-buying, and procedural violations during the leadership contest. If successful, the case could have invalidated Ozel’s chairmanship and reinstated Kilicdaroglu or appointed a court-backed “trustee chairman.”
CHP officials firmly denied all allegations, insisting the election followed proper rules. They described the lawsuit as politically motivated and aimed at weakening the opposition through judicial means.
Critics said the case was part of a wider government crackdown on the CHP, which achieved major victories in last year’s local elections. Several CHP-run municipalities have since faced a string of investigations and arrests.
Among those targeted is Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent CHP figure widely seen as a potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was arrested in March on corruption charges he denies, sparking protests across Turkey.
Government officials maintain that the judiciary operates independently and that all investigations are based solely on corruption concerns. However, opposition supporters and rights groups say the legal pressure on CHP members reflects an attempt to curb dissent and weaken Erdogan’s political rivals ahead of future elections.
