Overview
- Delegates at an extraordinary congress returned Ozgur Ozel as chairman, with all 835 valid ballots in his favor from 917 cast.
- The re-vote aims to insulate party leaders before an Oct. 24 Ankara court ruling on whether to annul the CHP’s 2023 congress, a decision delayed from earlier this month.
- The court has rejected prosecutors’ request to suspend Ozel and his administration while the case proceeds.
- Prosecutors have charged 12 CHP figures, including jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, over alleged irregularities; all deny wrongdoing as the CHP calls the cases politically motivated and the government says courts act independently.
- Pressure on the party has expanded with trustee moves against its Istanbul branch and continuing arrests of mayors and officials, while markets and rights observers are watching the legal fight as the CHP governs key cities.