Overview

• 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.