On October 24, 2025, a Turkish court delivered a verdict that reverberated far beyond the walls of Ankara’s 42nd Civil Court of First Instance. Judges dismissed a corruption case seeking to unseat Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and annul the party’s contentious 2023 congress. The decision, which many observers saw as a crucial test of Turkey’s democratic institutions, brought a collective sigh of relief to opposition supporters and investors alike, while stirring up fresh debate about the country’s political trajectory.
The lawsuit at the heart of the controversy had alleged vote-buying and procedural violations during the CHP’s 38th congress in November 2023. That meeting saw the ouster of longtime leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the election of Ozel—a combative, gravel-voiced figure who quickly became a central player in Turkish politics. Plaintiffs, represented by lawyer Onur Yusuf Uregen, argued that irregularities had tainted the process and sought to have the results thrown out, a move that could have replaced Ozel with a court-appointed trustee or even reinstated Kilicdaroglu.
But the court found the case had “no legal basis” and was, in fact, “moot.” According to Reuters, the judge cited the party’s extraordinary congress on September 21, 2025, where Ozel was re-elected, reaffirming his legitimacy and rendering the earlier dispute irrelevant. Applause reportedly broke out in the courtroom as the decision was announced, signaling both relief and vindication among CHP supporters.
For Ozel and his allies, the ruling was more than a legal victory—it was a validation of the party’s internal processes and a rebuke to those they say are trying to undermine Turkish democracy. Speaking to reporters, Ozel declared, “The purpose was to make the CHP a subject of debate. They thought, ‘We can’t defeat the CHP politically, so let’s create confusion.’ They tried to make us sick, to infect our system, but the CHP neither weakened nor accepted those toxins.”
CHP officials have consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the lawsuit as a politically motivated attempt by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government to weaken the opposition through judicial means. Caglar Caglayan, a lawyer for the party, said, “This decision was in accordance with the law. We’ve been saying these cases need to be removed from our country’s agenda. As of today, I hope this will happen. Politics will also return to its normal course.”
The case, though officially brought by a faction within the CHP that lost the 2023 leadership contest, was widely viewed as part of a broader government crackdown on the opposition. Following the party’s resounding success in the 2024 local elections—where it notched historic victories over Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)—CHP-controlled municipalities faced waves of arrests. The most high-profile target has been Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a charismatic figure seen as a leading contender to challenge Erdogan’s 22-year grip on power.
Imamoglu was arrested on March 19, 2025, on corruption charges he denies. According to BBC and Agence France-Presse, his detention, along with those of other CHP mayors and officials, sparked regular street protests and rallies by opposition activists. Authorities responded with mass detentions—nearly 2,000 people were taken into custody, though most were later released. On the very day of the court’s verdict, prosecutors in Istanbul reportedly opened a new investigation into Imamoglu on espionage charges, further fanning the flames of political tension.
Despite these setbacks, the CHP has maintained its stance that the government is using the judiciary as a political weapon. The party has accused Erdogan and the AKP of orchestrating a “political coup” through the courts, particularly after losing ground in the 2024 local elections. In the words of one party official cited by Agence France-Presse, the legal action was “aimed at discrediting the party rather than resolving a legal dispute.”
For Erdogan’s government, however, the narrative is quite different. Officials insist that Turkey’s courts are impartial and that the investigations into CHP figures are solely focused on rooting out corruption. In statements to the press, government spokespeople have rejected accusations of political interference, asserting that the judiciary remains independent and that the rule of law is being upheld.
Whatever the political motivations, the court’s decision had immediate and tangible effects on Turkey’s financial markets. As reported by Bloomberg and Reuters, stocks and bonds rallied on the news, with the Borsa Istanbul BIST 100 index surging 4.5% and the banking index jumping nearly 8%. The Turkish lira, which had weakened to a record low earlier in the day, trimmed its losses and even strengthened against the dollar. Meanwhile, Turkey’s five-year credit default swaps—a key measure of investor risk—fell by 13 basis points to 254, reflecting improved sentiment in the wake of the ruling.
The verdict also provided a reprieve for the opposition, which has been battered by months of legal and political pressure. Had the court ruled to oust Ozel, many analysts believe the CHP would have been thrown into chaos, opening the door for Erdogan to further consolidate his power ahead of the next presidential election, scheduled for 2028. As it stands, the CHP remains neck-and-neck with the AKP in polls, keeping the political landscape highly competitive.
Yet, the fight is far from over. The plaintiffs, caught off guard by the dismissal, have vowed to appeal. “We weren’t expecting the case to be dismissed. It was a surprise,” said Onur Yusuf Uregen, promising to “pursue legal action and file an appeal.” The ongoing legal battles, combined with the continued detention of key opposition figures like Imamoglu, ensure that Turkey’s political drama is far from resolved.
In the broader context, the court’s decision is seen by many as a pivotal moment—a rare instance where the judiciary sided with the opposition in a climate often criticized for creeping autocracy. Whether this marks a turning point or merely a temporary respite remains to be seen. For now, though, the CHP and its supporters are celebrating a hard-fought victory, even as the road ahead promises more twists and turns.