Ankara: A Turkish court has mandated that the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), conduct a new congress following the annulment of its 2023 leadership election due to allegations of irregularities.

According to Anadolu Agency, the sequence of events began in November 2023 when Ozgur Ozel defeated Kemal Kilicdaroglu to become the chairman of CHP at the party congress. However, in the months that followed, several CHP delegates, along with former Hatay Mayor Lutfu Savas, filed lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of the congress, citing claims of vote buying, political favors, and other irregularities.

In 2024, Ankara prosecutors initiated an investigation into these allegations of vote rigging, although the CHP denied any wrongdoing and presented a defense to the court. Despite these efforts, the legal proceedings culminated in May 2026 when the court ruled that the 2023 CHP congress was legally invalid under the 'absolute nullity' principle.

Following the court's decision, Kemal Kilicdaroglu's administration, which was in place prior to the congress, was temporarily reinstated to oversee the organization of a new congress. This development marks a significant moment for the CHP as it navigates the challenges of leadership and party governance.