Turkey CHP leadership dispute draws Ankara march after court removes Ozgur Ozel

Tens of thousands of supporters of former CHP leader Ozgur Ozel marched through central Ankara on Saturday. The demonstration followed a May 21 court order that removed Ozel from leading Turkiye’s main opposition party. Many protesters viewed the ruling as political. The crowd later went to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

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People first assembled at Guven Park in central Ankara to hear Ozel speak. After the speech, the crowd joined Ozel in an unplanned march. The group walked to Ataturk’s mausoleum. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded modern Turkiye. The march became a show of support for Ozel and the CHP’s elected leadership.

CHP court order against Ozgur Ozel drives Ankara march

Ozel told supporters that opponents were targeting the party’s elected leadership. "They are attempting to replace the CHPs elected chairman and appoint a trustee,\" Ozel said. \"Today is the day to restart our march to power.\" Ozel also rejected claims it was a party dispute. \"I wish this were an internal party matter.\"

Ozel linked the dispute to national politics and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. \"This is not an internal matter for the CHP.\" Ozel added, \"This is a matter between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the nation.\" Many in the crowd echoed claims that the case aimed to weaken opposition politics.

CHP leadership dispute returns Kemal Kilicdaroglu after Ozgur Ozel

The appeals court decision overturned a 2023 party congress vote that chose Ozel. The ruling restored former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Ozel’s place. The move angered many CHP supporters. Ozel, 51, had replaced Kilicdaroglu, 77, after 13 years leading the party against Erdogan.

Ozel described the case as part of a wider legal pressure campaign on the CHP. The dispute focused on alleged irregularities in the congress vote. Separately, criminal cases across Turkiye have led to detentions. Many investigations involve claims of corruption in CHP-run municipalities. Hundreds of elected officials and party members have been detained.

The government has denied political influence over the judiciary. Officials say Turkiye’s courts act independently. Critics, including many at the march, remained unconvinced. The protest reflected broader concern about legal action against opposition figures. It also highlighted internal tensions that followed the court decision.

CHP rival rallies in Ankara amid Ozgur Ozel and Kemal Kilicdaroglu standoff

While people gathered at Guven Park, Kilicdaroglu held a separate event at CHP headquarters. Police stormed the building last Sunday to remove Ozel and supporters. Kilicdaroglu spoke to a much smaller crowd. Kilicdaroglu accused the previous party leadership of overseeing widespread corruption.

CHP polls, AKP race, and Ekrem Imamoglu cases shape election outlook

Recent opinion polls place the CHP level with the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. The next national election is scheduled for 2028. However, some expect Erdogan to seek early elections. The stakes have risen since the CHP gained strength in the 2024 municipal elections.

In the 2024 local polls, Ozel’s leadership helped deliver a setback to the AKP. The CHP kept control of key cities it had won five years earlier. These included Istanbul and Ankara. The results strengthened the party’s hold on major urban centres. They also increased focus on future presidential contenders.

The CHP mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been seen as a leading challenger to Erdogan. Erdogan has ruled Turkiye since 2003. Imamoglu has been imprisoned since March last year. Imamoglu faces several criminal cases. The cases could lead to a prison sentence lasting decades.

Saturday’s march showed continuing anger over Ozel’s removal and the court ruling. It also exposed sharp divisions inside the CHP. With the party tied with the AKP in polls, many supporters treated the rally as a test. The dispute now sits alongside wider legal cases shaping Turkiye’s opposition politics.

With inputs from PTI