Turkish police escorted CHP leaders out of party headquarters

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Turkish riot police forcefully entered the headquarters of Turkey’s main opposition party in Ankara on Sunday, using tear gas and rubber bullets to oust its ousted leadership.

The move followed a court ruling on Thursday that voided the 2023 election of Ozgur Özel as chairman of the Republican People’s Party, known as the CHP.

The court suspended Özel and members of the party’s executive board and temporarily reinstated former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Özel’s ousted CHP leadership rejected the decision as a “judicial coup” and vowed to hold a day-night march at the party’s Ankara headquarters.

Supporters of ousted Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Özel react as riot police enter the party's headquarters to evict the leadership after authorities ordered them to enforce a court decision to remove them from the building in Ankara, Turkey, May 24, 2026.
Ozel’s supporters and officials were brought inside for three daysImage: Ifekan Akuse/Reuters

Kilicdaroglu’s supporters tried to take over the building

On Sunday, Kilicdaroglu’s supporters tried to force their way into the building, before police arrived and took control of the building.

Some people tried to stop them, but officers eventually managed to rescue those who remained inside.

“The Republican People’s Party will now be on the streets or in the squares,” Özel said.

The CHP has filed an appeal against Thursday’s decision with Turkey’s Supreme Court, but legal experts say a decision could take more than a year.

Turkish police stand outside the CHP party headquarters in Ankara
The party members had blocked the entrances to the building in defiance of the court order issued on ThursdayImage: Kiwank L/DW

Court’s decision is a blow to CHP

Kilicdaroglu led the party for 13 years without winning a national election. In contrast, Özel scored a decisive victory over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP in the 2024 municipal elections in his first race as leader.

Özel called for a new party congress to be held as soon as possible on Saturday, while Kilicdaroglu said a congress would be held at an “appropriate” time.

The next national election is scheduled for 2028, but Erdogan could call for an early vote. His main rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a CHP member, has been in prison since March last year and is on trial on corruption charges.

Turkish opposition vows to fight to remove leaders

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Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez

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