Overview

• Delegates at the CHP’s extraordinary congress gave Özel all 835 valid votes out of 917 cast, renewing his mandate.
• Party officials say the fresh vote is intended to lessen the risk that a court decision could unseat the leadership.
• The court scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 24 and rejected prosecutors’ bid to suspend Özel and his administration in the interim.
• Prosecutors have charged 12 CHP members, including jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as separate probes have seen at least 16 mayors and more than 300 local officials detained, according to recent reports.
• Financial markets are watching the case closely, and the CHP remains the largest opposition force with control of Istanbul and Ankara.