In a dramatic chapter for Turkish politics, the country’s main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has re-elected its leader Ozgur Ozel in a move widely seen as a bid to shield the party from a looming government crackdown. The extraordinary congress, held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in Ankara, saw Ozel sweep all 835 valid votes cast by party delegates, underscoring a rare moment of unity at a time of mounting political uncertainty.
The special congress was convened amid intense pressure: prosecutors have accused the CHP of electoral fraud, alleging vote buying and procedural violations at its 2023 congress—claims the party vehemently denies. According to Reuters, the re-election was not just about internal party democracy but a calculated response to the risk that courts, seen by many in the opposition as increasingly influenced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, might soon oust the current leadership and install a government-approved trustee.
“We had to act quickly and decisively,” a senior CHP official told Reuters, reflecting the party’s anxiety about the judiciary’s next move. The Ankara court’s verdict on whether to annul the 2023 congress—where Ozel was originally elected—was initially expected on September 15 but has now been postponed to October 24, 2025. In the meantime, the party’s leadership remains in limbo, with Ozel’s new mandate seen as a bulwark against judicial interference.
Financial markets are watching the court’s decision closely, with the outcome expected to reverberate through Turkey’s political and economic landscape. The stakes are high: the CHP is not only the largest opposition force in parliament but also controls Turkey’s most populous cities, including Istanbul and Ankara. Any move to unseat Ozel could destabilize local governance and further polarize the political scene.
The allegations against the CHP have already led to a wave of arrests in municipalities under its control throughout 2025. Among those targeted is Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent figure who has emerged as Erdogan’s most significant rival in recent years. Imamoglu was detained in March on corruption charges he categorically denies, a development that sparked widespread protests and further galvanized the opposition.
The legal challenges facing the CHP are not limited to its top brass. Twelve party members, including Imamoglu, are facing charges that range from offering delegates cash and jobs to violating Turkey’s political parties law. All those accused have denied any wrongdoing. Despite prosecutors’ attempts to suspend Ozel and his administration while the case is pending, the court has so far rejected these requests, allowing the party’s leadership to continue—at least for now.
“This is not just about one party or one leader,” a party delegate said during the congress, as reported by Associated Press. “It’s about defending Turkey’s democracy against political interference.” The sentiment is echoed among many CHP supporters, who view the legal proceedings as a politically motivated attempt to weaken the opposition ahead of future elections.
President Erdogan and his ruling AK Party, which has dominated Turkish politics for over two decades, have been vocal in their criticism of the CHP. They have labeled the 2023 congress “tainted” and “fraudulent,” insisting that the ongoing investigations are solely about rooting out corruption. Erdogan’s government maintains that Turkey’s courts are impartial and free from political interference—a claim the opposition and its supporters strongly dispute.
The tension reached a boiling point earlier this month when a court removed the CHP’s elected provincial leadership in Istanbul and appointed an interim chairman to oversee the local branch. The move was met with fierce resistance from party members and supporters, who attempted to block the court-appointed official from entering the party’s Istanbul headquarters. Police responded with pepper spray, dispersing the crowd in scenes that highlighted the deepening divisions within Turkish society.
Ozel’s re-election has, for the moment, consolidated his position at the helm of the CHP. By securing a fresh mandate from party delegates, the party hopes to reduce the risk that the upcoming court ruling could unseat him. As Reuters notes, “By securing a fresh mandate from party delegates, CHP officials hope to reduce the risk that the upcoming court ruling on the 2023 congress could unseat Ozel.”
Ozel himself has risen to national prominence since Imamoglu’s detention, positioning himself as Erdogan’s next biggest rival. His leadership has been marked by a determined pushback against what he and his supporters describe as a slide towards autocracy under Erdogan. Critics of the government argue that the case against the CHP is part of a broader crackdown on dissent, with judicial pressure being used to undermine the opposition rather than democratic means.
The legal uncertainty has cast a shadow over the CHP’s recent successes. The party made significant gains in last year’s local elections, capturing key municipalities and challenging the AK Party’s long-standing dominance in urban centers. But the ongoing investigations and arrests have threatened to derail this momentum, raising questions about the future of opposition politics in Turkey.
The outcome of the court case could have far-reaching implications, not only for the CHP but for the broader political fabric of Turkey. If the court rules to annul the 2023 congress results, it could set a precedent for further judicial interventions in party politics—a prospect that worries democracy advocates both inside and outside the country.
Meanwhile, the CHP continues to deny all allegations of electoral fraud and maintains that its internal processes are transparent and democratic. The party’s leadership has called on its supporters to remain vigilant and united in the face of what they describe as unprecedented political pressure.
As Turkey awaits the court’s decision, the political climate remains tense. The CHP’s extraordinary congress and Ozel’s re-election have, at least temporarily, shored up the party’s leadership. But with the specter of judicial intervention still looming, the future remains uncertain for Turkey’s main opposition—and for the country’s democracy as a whole.
For now, all eyes are on Ankara, where the next chapter in this high-stakes political drama is set to unfold at the end of October.
