Turkish police evict opposition CHP leadership following court ruling

Turkish riot police forcibly evicted the leadership of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) from their headquarters in Ankara on Sunday, using tear gas and breaking through the building's gates to enforce a controversial court ruling that ordered a leadership change within the party.

An appeals court ruled on Thursday to oust current CHP leader Özgür Özel, annulling the results of the party's 2023 congress where he was elected, citing irregularities in the proceedings. The court simultaneously reinstated former CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who had led the party since 2010 but was forced to step down after losing to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election.

The Ankara governor's office issued the eviction order specifically targeting CHP members aligned with the ousted leader Özel. Riot police and crowds gathered outside the gates of the CHP headquarters in the Turkish capital before authorities moved to storm the building and remove the current leadership.

The Republican People's Party holds significant historical importance as Turkey's oldest political party, founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. The CHP serves as the primary opposition force against Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and traditionally represents secular and social democratic positions in Turkish politics.

Özgür Özel had assumed party leadership in 2023 following a contentious party congress, after Kılıçdaroğlu faced intense pressure to resign following his electoral defeat to Erdoğan. Kılıçdaroğlu's 13-year tenure as party leader had been marked by repeated electoral losses, culminating in his failure to unseat Erdoğan in the crucial 2023 presidential race.

The court-ordered reinstatement of Kılıçdaroğlu and the violent eviction of the party headquarters represent an unprecedented intervention in the internal affairs of Turkey's main opposition party. The move has escalated what was already a significant political crisis within the CHP into a broader confrontation involving state authorities.

This incident occurs at a particularly critical time for the Turkish opposition, which has struggled to present a unified front against the government despite some electoral successes in recent municipal elections, particularly in major cities like Istanbul and Ankara where CHP candidates have maintained control.

The forced eviction raises serious questions about judicial independence and democratic processes in Turkey. Critics view the court's intervention as part of a broader pattern of state pressure on opposition parties and civil society organizations. The use of riot police to enforce the court ruling has drawn particular criticism from opposition supporters and international observers.

The CHP had been attempting to rebuild and reorganize under Özel's leadership following the 2023 electoral defeats. The party had shown signs of renewed energy and had been working to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional secular, urban base to compete more effectively with Erdoğan's populist messaging.

The legal basis for the court's decision to annul the 2023 congress results remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the ruling will withstand potential appeals. The CHP leadership loyal to Özel may pursue legal challenges to the court's intervention, potentially prolonging the internal crisis.

The events mark a new low point in Turkey's already tense political climate and could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the opposition movement. The incident highlights the challenges facing democratic institutions in Turkey and may further polarize an already divided political landscape. International observers and Turkey's Western allies are likely to view these developments with concern, particularly given ongoing questions about democratic backsliding in the country.