Özgür Özel Re-elected CHP Leader at Extraordinary Congress Amid Accusations of Judicial Coup

Amid intensifying political pressure and judicial interference, Turkey’s main opposition party CHP held its 22nd Extraordinary Congress under the slogan “No to Coup, No to Trustees.” Özgür Özel was unanimously re-elected as party leader, receiving all 835 valid delegate votes.

A Show of Unity Under Siege

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) convened its emergency congress at the Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center in Ankara on Sunday, with the clear goal of rallying internal unity against what party leadership described as an ongoing “civilian coup” led by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Out of 917 total votes cast, 835 were counted as valid — all in favor of Özgür Özel, who stood as the sole candidate for party leadership. A total of 82 votes were deemed invalid. İstanbul’s provincial delegates, the party council (PM), and the high disciplinary board (YDK) did not participate in the vote, in accordance with the party’s internal procedures.

The congress unfolded under extraordinary circumstances, with party assets and institutions facing intense scrutiny and what CHP officials describe as politically motivated judicial interventions.

Erdoğan’s Government Accused of “Judicial Coup”

In his fiery address, Özel described recent developments — including the arrests of elected CHP mayors and attempted government intervention in the party’s internal affairs — as a “civilian coup orchestrated not with tanks, but through the judiciary.” Özel accused the ruling AKP of “abandoning the ballot box” and attempting to dismantle democratic opposition through court rulings and trustee appointments.

“They realized they cannot defeat us at the ballot box, so they weaponized the judiciary,” Özel declared, drawing parallels to the infamous 2016 coup attempt. “But this time, the coup is launched by the government itself — not against the current government, but against the next one.”

Referring to Erdoğan’s alleged backchannel meetings with Trump’s son, Özel said: “This government now takes cues not from the Turkish people but from Washington. This isn’t a democracy; it’s a kleptocracy propped up by foreign endorsements and judicial manipulation.”

CHP United Against Government Overreach

The congress featured speeches from key opposition figures, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who remains imprisoned in Silivri. In a powerful message read out to delegates, İmamoğlu accused the Erdoğan government of “persecuting everyone outside a small ruling elite,” and emphasized CHP’s role as the defender of democracy and national unity.

“They’re trying to derail our democratic path with judicial ambushes,” İmamoğlu wrote. “But they’ve underestimated our resilience. We are not just opposition; we are the future of this country.”

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş also cast his vote in support of Özel, describing the congress as “an opportunity to restore unity and collective purpose” within the party.

Kılıçdaroğlu Absent, Tekin Excluded

The congress took place without the attendance of former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who declined Özel’s invitation to participate. Also notably absent was Gürsel Tekin, the former İstanbul provincial chair, who was controversially removed and replaced by a government-appointed trustee. Tekin was not invited to the proceedings.

Former party leaders Hikmet Çetin and Murat Karayalçın, however, were seated beside Özel in a symbolic show of continuity and institutional legitimacy.

Photos of Imprisoned Mayors Displayed

In a poignant moment, the congress hall featured large banners and photos of imprisoned CHP mayors and officials, including those removed under the government’s controversial trustee law — a move widely seen as a tool to neutralize opposition-held municipalities.

This visual message reinforced the party’s argument that the Erdoğan administration is conducting a coordinated campaign to disable local democratic governance, particularly in opposition strongholds.

A Call to Mass Mobilization

Özel used the platform to announce the party’s next major rally, scheduled for Wednesday evening in front of the Palestinian Embassy in Eyüpsultan, Istanbul. He called on all opposition parties and civil society groups to participate in a “unity demonstration” featuring both Turkish and Palestinian flags.

He also reiterated the CHP’s demand for a return to democratic norms and transparent elections. “Our victory in 2024 was the people’s voice. The government responded not with respect, but repression,” he said.

Rising in the Polls

Özel shared internal polling results suggesting that CHP is currently leading the ruling AKP by a margin of 5 to 7 points — a significant swing from past years when Erdoğan’s party maintained a dominant lead.

The re-elected chairman vowed that the party would not retreat from its goal of forming the next government. “Our roadmap is ready. Our cadres are ready. Our fight is just,” he said.

Özel also promised a new party manifesto to be unveiled during the week of September 4–9, coinciding with CHP’s founding week. “We are the Republic. We are the People’s Party. And we are not afraid,” he concluded.

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