Turkish Opposition CHP Reaffirms Leadership Amid Political Crackdown

The CHP's extraordinary congress solidifies Özgür Özel's leadership and backs Ekrem Imamoglu as its 2028 presidential candidate following his arrest.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) held an extraordinary congress on April 6, 2025, to demonstrate political unity and counter government pressures.
Özgür Özel was reaffirmed as party leader, consolidating his role in navigating the CHP through escalating judicial and political challenges.
The congress reiterated the party's support for Ekrem Imamoglu, who remains its 2028 presidential candidate despite his March 19 arrest on controversial charges.
Protests, sparked by Imamoglu's arrest, continue across Turkey, though their intensity has lessened during Ramadan.
The CHP has called for an economic boycott of pro-government businesses as international criticism of Turkey's democratic backsliding grows.