Newsletters
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 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.
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.
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.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
