An Istanbul lower court attempted to block a re-election for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) provincial leadership congress, taking place today (24 September), despite the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) approving the party’s plans. Earlier this month, the court removed the provincial leadership and appointed a trustee to the party’s Istanbul branch, a move critics say is part of a broader government effort to crackdown on the opposition.
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| Court attempts to stop Turkish opposition’s leadership election Court attempts to stop Turkish opposition’s leadership election |
The leadership election congress scheduled for today was halted by Istanbul’s 45th Civil Court, which issued its ruling around 11:30 a.m., despite the YSK having authorized the congress to proceed as planned. The sudden decision caused nationwide turmoil, sending the BIST 100 index down from 11,352 to 11,133, a drop of 219 points. CHP officials quickly rushed to the YSK to protest the ruling.
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Moments ago, Supreme Election Council Chair Ahmet Yener held a press conference, stating:
“According to Article 79 of the Constitution, it is not legally possible to halt a congress process that has already begun.”
The recent rulings by Istanbul’s 45th Civil Court raise concerns that the judiciary is overstepping its bounds. By attempting to halt a provincial party congress already underway and removing the elected leadership of CHP’s Istanbul branch, the court has inserted itself directly into internal party affairs—a domain normally regulated by the party under the oversight of the Electoral Council.
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A wider pattern of crackdown
Earlier this month, the same 45th Civil Court had removed CHP’s Istanbul provincial leadership “as a precaution” during an ongoing fraud case related to the party’s last provincial congress in 2023. Özgür Çelik, the CHP provincial chair, was removed, and Gürsel Tekin was installed as a trustee in his stead. In response, the party held a re-election today, which is expected to restore Çelik to the position.
Tekin’s appointment was widely seen as a blatant violation of the party’s autonomy, and his arrival at the provincial headquarters sparked violent protests. He was only able to enter the building under the protection of hundreds of riot police, reminiscent of the 2025 Istanbul demonstrations that followed the arrest of Istanbul Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu—events that further undermined Tekin’s legitimacy as provincial chair.
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
Earlier this month, CHP Chair Özgür Özel was re-elected for a third term at a party congress in Ankara to preempt a potential removal by the courts under similar fraud allegations. Özel ran unopposed, receiving all 835 valid votes cast. The congress took place amid an ongoing court case challenging Özel’s original November 2023 election, which alleges irregularities including vote-buying. A ruling, initially expected in mid-September, has been postponed until 25 October, raising the possibility that Özel could be removed and former chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu reinstated. Kılıçdaroğlu had led the party for 13 years before being voted out in 2023, following his defeat to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the CHP’s candidate in the general election.
Similarly, the Çankaya 4th District Election Board rejected two separate requests to annul the CHP’s 22nd extraordinary congress, held on 21 September 2025 in Ankara. After the congress, Kemal Çiftçi and CHP Ankara delegate Şahin Kurt each submitted applications to the board seeking to cancel the event, both of which were ultimately dismissed.
