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Türkiye's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has called an extraordinary congress for Sept. 21, implementing what party leader Ozgur Ozel describes as a "legal nullity" strategy to prevent any potential court-appointed trustee from taking control of the party leadership.
The move comes ahead of a crucial court hearing on Sept. 15 regarding the party's Istanbul provincial congress, which was previously annulled by a court decision that also invalidated delegate credentials.
"If a trustee is appointed to the party's leadership, that trustee would only remain for six days," Ozel told reporters at CHP headquarters in Ankara.
"This is a process that even the party chairman cannot stop. After six days, the party will re-elect its elected chairman. This is a technical, legal move that complies with all regulations," he added.
Unlike the party's previous extraordinary congress held on April 6, which was called by party leadership, this congress decision was initiated directly by delegates themselves.
Over 900 delegates—excluding those from Istanbul whose credentials were invalidated, natural delegates including Ozel, Central Executive Committee members, Party Assembly members, and High Disciplinary Board members—submitted notarized signatures requesting the congress.
"When delegates collect signatures from more than half their number, an extraordinary congress must be held even if the party chairman opposes it, even if the Party Assembly opposes it," Ozel explained.
"Our delegates have taken a congress decision that even the party chairman cannot prevent," he added.
CHP has also announced plans to hold a rally in Ankara on Sept. 14, one day before the critical court hearing on the absolute nullity case.
According to Turkish media reports, party insiders emphasize that the near-unanimous delegate support for the extraordinary congress—with approximately 900 signatures from just over 1,000 eligible delegates—aims to send a strong message of unity behind the current leadership.
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