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Ankara's 36th Civil Chamber of the Regional Court of Appeals has ruled that Ozgur Ozel and the executive administration of the main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), be provisionally removed from their positions. As an interim measure in an ongoing lawsuit over the validity of the party's 2023 congress, former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and his leadership team have been ordered to assume control of the party.
Speaking to Turkish media outlet TGRT following the absolute nullity ruling, Kemal Kilicdaroglu said, "May it be beneficial to Türkiye and the CHP."
The chamber overturned an Oct. 24, 2025, decision by Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance, which had ruled there were no grounds for a decision because the case had become moot. The appeals chamber accepted the consolidated appeal, reinstated the case, and ruled on the merits.
A "mutlak butlan" or "absolute nullity" ruling essentially voids the current CHP leadership and its actions following the 2023 party congress. That congress was the one in which Ozel defeated Kilicdaroglu in the party leadership race.
The chamber declared that the party must revert to its pre-Nov. 4-5, 2023 state, ordering that former General Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the party organs in place before the 2023 congress continue in their roles until the ruling becomes final.
The Oct. 8, 2023, CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress and all decisions taken at it were also voided on the same grounds.
The ruling stated: "Ozgur Ozel, who assumed the chairmanship through the Nov. 4-5, 2023 congress that is afflicted with absolute nullity, along with the Central Executive Board members, Party Assembly members and Supreme Disciplinary Board members, are provisionally removed from their duties, and General Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the Party Assembly and Supreme Disciplinary Board members who were in office prior to the Nov. 4-5, 2023 congress are ordered to provisionally assume their duties and be reinstated until the ruling becomes final."
The interim injunction was ordered to be sent to the Supreme Election Council, Ankara Provincial Election Board, Cankaya 4th District Election Board and Ankara Governorate for implementation.
The CHP's Central Executive Board convened in an extraordinary emergency session called by Ozel following the ruling.
A CHP statement invited all party members and organizational units to gather at party headquarters at Ozel's call.
In his first official statement following the ruling, Kilicdaroglu posted on X: "The Republican People's Party is not an arena for personal ambition. The Republican People's Party is the sovereignty deed of our nation. The ruling issued by the court regarding our 38th Ordinary Congress should not be an occasion for division, but an opportunity to unite under our century-old plane tree."
"This is not a day for cries of joy that wound one another. This is a day to set aside grievances and rise together, with seriousness, calm and embrace. We must manage this process not with regrets, but with seriousness, the sincerity we draw from our party culture, and collective wisdom. It is not personal ambitions but the future of Türkiye that matters," he added.
"In this context, we will carry out the process in full harmony and cooperation with our former general chairmen, Party Assembly members, deputies, and provincial and district chairs. Let no one worry, we will bring our party through these debates and continue our march to power. I call on everyone to remain calm and use collective wisdom. We are together!" Kilicdaroglu said.
Ozel, meanwhile, shared a passage from a speech he had given at the party's 39th Ordinary Congress.
"I do not promise you a path to power through a rose garden. I promise you endurance in pain but not surrender. I promise you honor, dignity, courage and struggle," Ozel posted on X.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek addressed the ruling in a formal press statement at the Justice Ministry, framing it as a matter of democratic principle rather than partisan politics.
"Regardless of which party is in question, it is unacceptable for the will of a delegate or member to be corrupted through interest, pressure or manipulation," Gurlek said.
He stressed that the process had been initiated by CHP delegates themselves and had taken shape through their testimonies and statements.
"The appellate court reached the conclusion that delegate will was corrupted in a way that affected the outcome of the congress during the Nov. 4-5, 2023 process. The court determined that allegations that some delegates were provided with benefits or made promises damaged the freedom and equality of the electoral process," Gurlek said.
The minister said political parties were indispensable components and load-bearing pillars of democracy. "The damage to these pillars means direct damage to democracy. For this reason, this ruling is one that reinforces our citizens' trust in democracy and shows that democracy's self-protection mechanisms are functioning," Gurlek said.
Gurlek confirmed the ruling remained subject to further challenge. "Of course, the path of appeal to the Court of Cassation is open for this ruling. The process will continue to operate within the legal order. It will be of great importance for everyone to respect this process, make their assessments within the legal framework and lodge any objections within the legal order," he said.
"Our fundamental principle is clear: the will belongs to the nation, the delegate, the member. The rule of law stands firmly against every element that casts a shadow over this will," the Turkish justice minister noted.
The lawsuit was filed by former Hatay Mayor Lutfu Savas and a group of delegates who alleged procedural irregularities at the 2023 congress and sought the removal of Ozel, the Central Executive Board, the Party Assembly, and the Supreme Disciplinary Board, and the reinstatement of Kilicdaroglu and the pre-congress party bodies.
On April 6, 2025, the CHP held its 21st Extraordinary Congress, at which Ozel was re-elected party leader.
The appeals court ruling voids Congress and all decisions taken by it as well.
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