Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has announced it will hold an extraordinary congress on September 21, 2024. This decision follows a court ruling that ousted the party’s leadership in Istanbul over allegations of corruption. A source confirmed the announcement to AFP, highlighting the growing political challenges faced by the CHP.
The court’s ruling came earlier this week, which annulled the results of the CHP’s Istanbul provincial congress held in October 2023. As a result, Özgür Çelik, the party leader in Istanbul, along with 195 other delegates, were removed from their positions. In response, over 900 CHP delegates submitted a petition to a local election board in Ankara on Friday, seeking authorization for the extraordinary congress.
The upcoming congress is poised to influence the party’s strategy during a period marked by legal uncertainty. The CHP, the largest opposition force in the Turkish parliament, achieved a significant victory against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s ruling AKP in the local elections held in 2024. However, it has faced increasing pressure, including a wave of arrests and legal challenges. Notably, the popular mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was sentenced to prison on allegations of corruption, which he denies. His jailing sparked widespread protests, the likes of which have not been seen in a decade.
Following the court’s decision, the CHP’s stock market value suffered a drop of 5.5 percent. The party has subsequently filed an appeal against the ruling. Political analyst Berk Esen described the court’s actions as a “rehearsal” for a larger case against the party’s national leadership, suggesting that this legal strategy aims to undermine the CHP’s role as a credible opposition.
As the extraordinary congress approaches, the CHP deputy leader responsible for election and legal affairs, Gul Çiftci, emphasized its significance. She stated that the congress “will not only determine the future of our party but will also reaffirm faith in pluralism, diversity, and democratic politics in Turkey.” In a comment on X, she celebrated the delegates’ will to convene the congress, framing it as evidence of the CHP’s resilience against governmental interference.
Political observers note that the rapid mobilization of over 900 delegates to petition for the congress reflects a proactive response to potential further legal challenges. The urgency of this action is underscored by an ongoing case against the CHP’s national leadership, scheduled to resume in Ankara on September 15, 2024.
As the situation evolves, the outcome of the extraordinary congress could have significant implications for the CHP and the broader political landscape in Turkey.
