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Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) held a closed parliamentary group meeting Tuesday and reelected suspended party leader Ozgur Ozel as parliamentary group chairman, as the party continues to grapple with the fallout from a court ruling annulling its 2023 congress.
Ozel received the support of 95 out of 96 lawmakers attending the meeting, while one vote was declared invalid.
CHP sources described the vote as a “renewal of confidence within the parliamentary group,” according to Turkish media reports.
The result will become official after the election record is submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s Office.
CHP sources said the election was repeated as a precaution following the court ruling and to avoid potential legal complications regarding Ozel’s parliamentary group leadership status.
The vote came days after the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice annulled CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress held on Nov. 4–5, 2023, on grounds of “absolute nullity.”
The court provisionally removed Ozel and the current party administration from office and ordered the reinstatement of former CHP Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, together with the former Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board members.
Following the ruling, CHP appealed to the Supreme Election Council (YSK), but the application was rejected.
YSK also rejected a separate request seeking recognition that Ozel and his administration should remain in office despite the court’s precautionary suspension decision.
Another application requesting the annulment of local elections based on the “absolute nullity” ruling was also dismissed.
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Ozel convened CHP lawmakers at party headquarters for the closed group meeting and is also expected to chair a Party Assembly session later in the day.
The Party Assembly, CHP’s highest decision-making body, is expected to discuss the possibility of holding a new congress.
Ozel is also expected to hold talks with former party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu following the meeting.
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