Turkish court rules in favor of opposition CHP, upholds 2023 party congress

An Ankara civil court has rejected a lawsuit seeking to annul the 38th congress of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), ruling that the claims lacked sufficient evidence.

The legal challenge followed the November 2023 party vote in which Özgür Özel defeated longtime leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, ending his 13-year tenure. Allegations of vote irregularities, including delegate bribery and procedural violations, were filed by former Hatay mayor Lütfü Savaş and several CHP delegates.

In February 2025, multiple lawsuits were merged and reviewed by Ankara’s 42nd Civil Court of First Instance. The court had previously declined requests to suspend the current party leadership pending trial.

Amid the legal process, CHP held an extraordinary 22nd congress in September 2025 to reconfirm Özel’s leadership, a move seen as consolidating control and countering legal risks.