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On June 3, 2025, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office completed an investigation into allegations of vote manipulation at the 38th Ordinary Congress of Türkiye’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The investigation resulted in a formal indictment, which was accepted by the court.
The case names former CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as a victim, while members of his faction are listed as complainants. Istanbul’s former mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, currently in custody, is listed as a suspect.
The indictment seeks prison sentences ranging from one to three years for Imamoglu and 11 other senior CHP figures, including Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay and Istanbul provincial chair Ozgur Celik, on charges of manipulating delegate votes.
Emerging amid the party’s efforts to resist political marginalization, the legal process surrounding internal disagreements has gained momentum, reinforcing divisions and prompting concern that it may ultimately serve the ruling bloc’s interests.
The controversy began when claims surfaced online during a program by a known opposition journalist, alleging that a prosecutor offered to dismiss the congress-related lawsuit if Kilicdaroglu agreed to publicly declare that there was no misconduct in the delegate voting process. It was suggested that Kilicdaroglu rejected this offer.
A heated confrontation erupted between prominent figures from the Kilicdaroglu era and members and supporters seen as close to Imamoglu over the week. Tensions escalated to the point where members of both factions appeared to threaten each other with exposure. In a striking move, Eren Erdem — one of the most prominent names from the Kilicdaroglu period — publicly disclosed internal party information online.
Although Kilicdaroglu stated that “party matters should never be litigated in court,” he has so far remained silent in the face of public calls from CHP’s broad-based current leadership. He has neither appeared in court to clarify that he is not a victim, nor has he issued a statement to that effect. He has simply announced that he will maintain his silence.
However, his critics argue that by not ruling out the possibility of benefiting from the ongoing legal process, he is leaving the door open for a potential return — a move they see as damaging. Kilicdaroglu had previously hinted at “irregularities” in the case during a televised interview, which further fueled controversy.
Current chair Ozgur Ozel, on the other hand, has largely avoided commenting directly on the ongoing lawsuit or Kilicdaroglu’s recent statements. However, in a recent interview, he defended the legitimacy of the 2023 congress, emphasizing that it had the highest delegate turnout and support in party history. “The people, the polls, and the delegates all spoke,” he said. “There is nothing more to add.”
Throughout the controversy, Ozel has maintained a consistent stance of not engaging in public conflict with his predecessor. When Kilicdaroglu previously warned of threats to his personal safety and accused rivals of internal repression, Ozel refrained from retaliation, merely asserting that former leaders have a right to criticize, while he himself chooses not to.
The indictment was accepted in the same week, adding fuel to an already volatile political moment.
The roots of the crisis lie in the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress, held in November 2023, where Ozgur Ozel was elected party chair, replacing Kilicdaroglu. Following the congress, former Hatay Mayor Lutfu Savas and several other delegates filed a lawsuit seeking to annul the results, citing alleged irregularities.
The court case — centered on accusations of vote-buying — held its second hearing on May 26, 2025, and is set to continue on June 30. According to the indictment, Imamoglu served as the congress president and allegedly oversaw a network that offered cash, job promises, and market shopping cards to sway delegate votes in favor of Ozel.
Observers believe that the June 30 hearing may prove decisive. If the court annuls the 2023 congress, Kilicdaroglu could, in theory, be reinstated as party chair by legal decree — bypassing any need for new elections or internal votes. This would represent a dramatic reversal for the Ozel-led leadership, which has enjoyed growing public support and electoral success since taking over.
Ozel’s team has responded to mounting pressure from both within and outside the party. His swift organization of a major rally in Istanbul after Imamoglu’s arrest helped stave off calls for a state-appointed trustee. A separate attempt to call an emergency party congress was also quashed when a court ruled that its legal basis was unsubstantiated.
While Ozel’s leadership has been bolstered by CHP’s success in the 2024 local elections and its subsequent rise in national polls, internal challenges continue. Yet behind the scenes, political maneuvering and factional rivalries persist.
The investigation into Imamoglu, his brief detention, and efforts to strip him of his mayoral title — despite a decisive victory in Istanbul — have been portrayed by critics as attempts to sideline a prominent opposition figure ahead of the next presidential race. Allegations that the government coalition is using legal means to ban his image and challenge his university diploma have fueled claims that the ruling bloc is exploiting the judiciary for political ends.
While the CHP leadership continues its battle against the government, it now finds itself entangled in internal strife as well. The strike events in Izmir this week posed yet another challenge — though not political — to the party’s popular appeal.
The remarks on legal accusations quickly drew backlash from CHP lawmakers. Party leader Özgür Özel responded by saying that any attempt to assume leadership without an election would be “met with indignation by the party’s two million members.”
Behind the scenes, speculation has reportedly grown that if such a scenario unfolds, all current senior party figures could break away to form a new political movement even, if it is what it takes.
Although the politicians facing possible detention have dismissed the allegations as baseless, the prospect of a judicial touch in CHP’s leadership struggle could mark a defining moment in Türkiye’s political history.
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