Ankara: Rival factions within Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) exchanged accusations as divisions deepened after a court reinstated former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as the party's legal chair pending a new congress.
According to Anadolu Agency, supporters of former CHP Chair Ozgur Ozel gathered at a rally in Ankara following the court decision that annulled the party's 2023 congress. Participants criticized Kilicdaroglu for accepting the ruling and returning to the party headquarters.
Simultaneously, Kilicdaroglu hosted a separate gathering at CHP headquarters, defending the court's decision and accusing his opponents of damaging the party through alleged corruption, personal ambition, and political misconduct. He questioned who had dragged the party into legal disputes and accused unnamed figures of betraying it through 'personal ambitions' and 'backroom calculations.'
Ozel, addressing his supporters, expressed readiness to compete against any delegate and called for a primary election with the participation of all members, challenging the legitimacy of Kilicdaroglu's reinstatement.
The exchanges followed Ankara's Regional Court of Appeals' decision to uphold a lower court ruling that declared the CHP's fall 2023 congress legally invalid due to serious allegations requiring the results to be annulled. The court temporarily restored Kilicdaroglu's pre-congress administration until a new leadership vote is held.
Allegations of widespread irregularities during the congress were brought by former CHP members and delegates, claiming that delegates were offered incentives to support Ozel. Ozel and his allies have denied these claims, describing the case as politically motivated.
The ruling has reignited a leadership battle that has split the CHP since the 2023 congress. Ozel's supporters view the decision as judicial interference and urge members to defend the congress's outcome, while Kilicdaroglu's camp insists on accountability to restore the party's credibility.
Kilicdaroglu further criticized his rivals, vowing to purge the CHP of 'bribe-takers and thieves' and accusing some former associates of collaborating with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). He apologized to supporters for not identifying 'FETO agents' earlier and accused unnamed figures of seeking foreign support.