Turkeys CHP plunges into leadership crisis as Kldarolu and zel stage dueling rallies

Turkey’s main opposition party plunges into leadership crisis as rival factions hold dueling rallies in Ankara

Former Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his successor, Özgür Özel, staged competing gatherings in the Turkish capital on Saturday, escalating a bitter feud over a court ruling that reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu as the party’s legal chairman pending a new congress. The simultaneous events—held just hours apart—underscored deep divisions within the CHP, Turkey’s oldest political party, as tens of thousands of supporters rallied behind each camp.

Kılıçdaroğlu, who led the CHP from 2010 until his replacement by Özel in 2023, told reporters that the party would convene a general convention "as soon as a judicial injunction is lifted," framing the move as a necessary step to resolve the leadership dispute through legal means. His remarks followed a court decision earlier this week that overturned Özel’s election as party chair, citing procedural irregularities in the 2023 congress. Kılıçdaroğlu’s team has since accused Özel of attempting to "hijack" the party, while Özel’s allies dismissed the ruling as politically motivated, alleging interference by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.

The standoff has paralyzed the CHP at a critical juncture, with local elections looming in 2027 and the party struggling to regain momentum after a series of electoral defeats. Özel, a 51-year-old pharmacist and former deputy group leader, has sought to modernize the CHP’s image, but his leadership has been marred by internal resistance from Kılıçdaroğlu loyalists, who control key party organs. On Saturday, Özel addressed a crowd of supporters near Ankara’s Güvenpark, vowing to "defend democracy" and accusing Kılıçdaroğlu of undermining the party’s unity. Meanwhile, Kılıçdaroğlu’s event, held at the CHP’s headquarters, drew a larger turnout, with attendees chanting slogans in support of his reinstatement.

The crisis has spilled into the streets, with tens of thousands of protesters marching in Ankara earlier this week to demand Özel’s reinstatement as chair. The demonstrations, organized by youth wings of the CHP, reflect broader frustration among party members over the leadership turmoil. Analysts warn that the infighting risks alienating voters ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly as Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) consolidates its dominance.

Kılıçdaroğlu, a veteran politician known for his measured demeanor, has framed the dispute as a battle for the CHP’s soul, accusing Özel of abandoning the party’s social-democratic roots. Özel, in turn, has portrayed himself as a reformer, arguing that the CHP must shed its "old guard" to appeal to younger voters. The court’s ruling has left the party in legal limbo, with both sides claiming legitimacy. Party lawyers are now negotiating a timeline for the convention, though no date has been set.

The CHP’s internal strife comes as Turkey grapples with economic instability and a crackdown on dissent, raising stakes for the opposition. With the party’s future hanging in the balance, the outcome of the leadership battle could reshape Turkey’s political landscape—or further fragment its already divided opposition.