Trial adjournment on CHP convention dispute set for October
CHP's Legal Challenges: Annulment Lawsuits and Protests
In a series of legal developments, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Turkey is facing challenges to the legitimacy of several of its congresses and conventions. The most recent controversy surrounds the CHP's Istanbul provincial congress held on September 24, which is now under question. A petition to cancel this congress was filed by a young politician named Özlem Erkan at a court in Istanbul. However, a court in Ankara rejected the cancellation lawsuit regarding the Istanbul congress.
The CHP had initially filed for an extraordinary convention on September 21, 2023, to shield its leadership from dismissal through a ruling of "absolute nullity." An earlier attempt to cancel the Istanbul congress, made on September 11, was also rejected on procedural grounds.
The party is also seeking to cancel an extraordinary convention held on April 6, 2024, during which Özgür Özel was reelected party leader. A hearing on a lawsuit seeking to cancel the main opposition party's convention in 2023 was postponed until October 24.
The lawsuit alleges that the CHP's 38th ordinary convention on November 4-5, 2023, was marred by bribery, with delegates purportedly offered money. Prosecutors submitted an indictment alleging vote-buying by CHP delegates to a high criminal court after a lower court declared itself without jurisdiction. The appeal regarding the indictment remains pending.
The previous leadership of the CHP's Istanbul branch was suspended over alleged irregularities in a 2023 congress. The CHP announced that its Istanbul provincial headquarters would instead serve as Özgür Özel's "work office."
In response to these legal challenges, the CHP staged a rally in the capital ahead of the hearing on the Istanbul congress. Held in Tandoğan Square, the rally drew a heavy turnout from nearby provinces. Özgür Özel told supporters at the rally that the government does not want democracy, but they will bring democracy, justice, and peace. The rally was attended by workers, retirees, women, democrats from different parties, and represented all the colors of the Türkiye alliance.
Authorities closed several roads around the rally area, and CHP officials met with citizens in the lead-up to the gathering as part of outreach activities. The Istanbul provincial congress was scheduled after interim provincial chair Gürsel Tekin's arrival on September 8 caused protests.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Özgür Özel continues to lead the CHP, and no interim injunction was issued by the court during the September 15 hearing. The hearings held earlier rejected requests to suspend Özel's leadership as a precaution. The lawsuit was consolidated from multiple cases filed by former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş and other delegates.
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