Daijiworld Media Network - Ankara

Ankara, Sep 15: Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), faces a potential leadership upheaval as an Ankara court prepares to rule on Monday whether to annul the party’s 2023 congress over alleged procedural irregularities. A cancellation would strip party chairman Ozgur Ozel of his title, further weakening the opposition amid a sweeping legal crackdown.

The CHP has already seen hundreds of its members jailed, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in a probe into alleged graft and terrorism links. The centrist party, which denies wrongdoing, remains level with President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP) in polls. Ozel, 50, has gained prominence since Imamoglu’s detention, positioning himself as a key opposition figure.

Recent street protests in Ankara and elsewhere have highlighted public anger over what critics call a politicised and anti-democratic crackdown. Government officials reject such claims, insisting on judicial independence. “This is a serious moment that signals a regime change in Turkey from a competitive authoritarianism… to a kind of hegemonic authoritarianism,” said Seren Selvin Korkmaz, co-founder of Istanbul-based IstanPol Institute.

Financial markets have reacted nervously, with Turkish stocks, bonds, and the lira declining ahead of the ruling, recalling the crash in March when Imamoglu was jailed.

If the court annuls the congress, it could appoint a trustee to lead the CHP, reinstate former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, or reject or delay the case. Analysts warn that the ouster of Ozel could deepen internal party strife, bolstering Erdogan’s hold on power. Authorities detained 48 more CHP members, including a district mayor, over the weekend in a separate Istanbul-focused probe.

The outcome of Monday’s ruling is likely to test Turkey’s political balance and the resilience of its opposition amid a 22-year reign of Erdogan marked by consolidation of power across key institutions.