Turkish riot police forced their way into the headquarters of the country’s main opposition party on Sunday, days after a court dismissed its leadership. Clouds of tear gas billowed outside the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building in Ankara, where party members had blockaded the entrance with a makeshift barricade. Footage from the scene showed those inside shouting and throwing objects towards the entrance, while police were sprayed with hoses.
Party leader Özgür Özel had vowed to defy an appeal court decision that nullified his election. The court ruled that Özel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroğlu, a 77‑year‑old party veteran who was defeated by Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election. Kilicdaroğlu’s representatives requested the police to carry out “necessary procedures” to hand over the headquarters to the new leadership, saying they had been barred entry.
An angry crowd of Özel supporters triggered the move. They claimed the party would “march towards power” from now on. Özel emerged from the premises and then set off toward the Turkish assembly, surrounded by supporters who claimed the government tried to “uproot and throw us out.”
Human Rights Watch warned that Erdoğan’s government was undermining Turkish democracy with “abusive tactics” against the CHP. Erdoğan has led Turkey since 2003, and Özel has accused his AK Party of a strategy to “eliminate its rivals.”
Özel, 72, can only run for president again if he calls early elections before 2028 or changes the constitution. Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said the appeal court ruling “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy.” The decision overruled a 2025 ruling that had thrown out allegations of vote buying during the CHP primary in which Özel became opposition leader. The ruling also means the party’s entire executive is replaced, and it is thought these decisions are no longer recognised.
Party leader Özgür Özel had vowed to defy an appeal court decision that nullified his election. The court ruled that Özel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroğlu, a 77‑year‑old party veteran who was defeated by Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election. Kilicdaroğlu’s representatives requested the police to carry out “necessary procedures” to hand over the headquarters to the new leadership, saying they had been barred entry.
An angry crowd of Özel supporters triggered the move. They claimed the party would “march towards power” from now on. Özel emerged from the premises and then set off toward the Turkish assembly, surrounded by supporters who claimed the government tried to “uproot and throw us out.”
Human Rights Watch warned that Erdoğan’s government was undermining Turkish democracy with “abusive tactics” against the CHP. Erdoğan has led Turkey since 2003, and Özel has accused his AK Party of a strategy to “eliminate its rivals.”
Özel, 72, can only run for president again if he calls early elections before 2028 or changes the constitution. Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said the appeal court ruling “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy.” The decision overruled a 2025 ruling that had thrown out allegations of vote buying during the CHP primary in which Özel became opposition leader. The ruling also means the party’s entire executive is replaced, and it is thought these decisions are no longer recognised.
