CHP Leader Özgür Özel Re-Elected Amid Intensifying Protests for İmamoğlu’s Release

Turkey's largest opposition party solidifies leadership as nationwide demonstrations demand justice for detained Istanbul mayor and early elections.

Özgür Özel was re-elected as CHP leader during an extraordinary congress, securing 1,171 out of 1,276 votes.
The CHP continues to lead Turkey’s largest protests since 2013, with millions rallying against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges.
The party has launched a petition for İmamoğlu's release, gathering seven million signatures, while also organizing boycotts and weekly rallies across the country.
Özel has called for early elections by November 2025, positioning İmamoğlu as the CHP’s presidential candidate for 2028.
The Turkish government dismisses the protests as a smear campaign, intensifying crackdowns and media restrictions to counter the opposition's growing momentum.