Turkey's court ousts CHP leader, sparks massive protests in Ankara

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the headquarters of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Ankara after a court annulled the party’s 2023 leadership election, escalating political tensions in the country.

The Ankara court overturned the victory of current CHP leader Ozgur Ozel and appointed former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu as interim leader. The decision follows allegations that delegates were pressured and offered incentives during the 2023 party congress. Prosecutors reopened the case after an earlier dismissal in 2025.

The CHP immediately called an emergency leadership meeting as angry supporters flooded the streets, chanting slogans against Kilicdaroglu and waving party flags. An AFP correspondent estimated the crowd at more than 5,000 people.

The legal move marks the latest challenge facing Turkey’s oldest political party, which secured major gains against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AKP in the 2024 local elections and has recently seen rising support in opinion polls.