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Türkiye's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) held two separate group meetings in Ankara on Tuesday after a court decision overturned the party's 2023 congress, suspended Ozgur Ozel's administration and reinstated Kemal Kilicdaroglu as party leader.
Tensions began building early in the day ahead of the party's scheduled parliamentary group meeting at 1:30 p.m. local time (10:30 a.m. GMT), as uncertainty grew over whether Kilicdaroglu or Ozel would take the podium. The standoff later resulted in parallel gatherings, with Ozel addressing lawmakers at Parliament while Kilicdaroglu spoke to party members at the CHP headquarters.
Supporters gathered outside the Turkish Parliament's gate from the morning hours after both figures announced plans to speak. Security forces stepped up measures around the entrances, while riot police remained on standby near access points.
Several lawmakers backing Ozel took their seats inside the parliamentary group hall early in the day, while some reportedly stayed overnight in parliament to secure access ahead of the meeting. Medical personnel also remained nearby as a precaution.
As crowds continued to gather, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus announced that visitors would not be admitted to the CHP group meeting, citing security concerns at the building's entrances. In a written notice sent to both the CHP leadership and parliamentary group, Kurtulmus stated that visitors would be barred from attending due to what he described as a serious security risk ahead of the meeting.
The developments also drew reactions from Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, who urged Ozel to stop bringing CHP's internal disputes into the national political arena. Bahceli argued that the party was facing visible internal divisions and called for order to be restored before the situation escalated further.
Kilicdaroglu, on the other hand, abandoned plans to attend the parliamentary meeting and instead called party members to the CHP headquarters in Ankara. In a statement posted on X, he echoed a call for restraint previously made by Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas and urged party supporters to avoid internal conflict.
"Those who seek to turn this party's own members against each other by calling for a mass public uprising should know that we will never allow those dirty ambitions to succeed," Kilicdaroglu wrote.
Kilicdaroglu later addressed supporters at the headquarters, where he pledged to restore clean politics within the party amid ongoing corruption and bribery investigations involving some members. "We will cleanse ourselves. We will cleanse ourselves of corruption. We will practice clean politics," he said, vowing to cut ties with those involved in wrongdoing.
Kilicdaroglu argued that the CHP had historically upheld principles of integrity, justice and public service, while rejecting allegations that party leadership contests had become subject to transactional politics. "This party does not accept the idea of exchanging money for votes," he said, referring to allegations surrounding the party's 2023 congress. "Those who sell their will for money have no place in this party."
While Kilicdaroglu spoke at party headquarters, Ozel proceeded with the parliamentary group meeting and took the podium. "This is the place of those who are elected," Ozel told lawmakers.
Ozel framed the leadership dispute as part of a broader effort to weaken the CHP as an institution and leave President Recep Tayyip Erdogan without a viable political challenger. He also accused actors both inside and outside the party of cooperating in attempts to reshape the CHP's leadership and direction.
"For days, people debated who would stand at this podium. We are the people who believe in democracy. We respect elections, those who are elected and the will of the voters. What we are doing today is not about gaining ground or celebrating a victory. It is about not giving up, not surrendering and continuing to resist. It is the unity of those who care about the future of the country," he said.
The leadership crisis stems from a court ruling that annulled CHP's 2023 congress, where Ozel defeated longtime leader Kilicdaroglu, citing alleged irregularities in the vote.
The case was brought by party delegates who challenged the congress over claims of vote-buying and favoritism. The ruling suspended Ozel's administration, reinstated Kilicdaroglu and ordered a new party congress.
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