Turkish court clears CHP leader, easing pressure on Erdogan’s rivals

A Turkish court on Friday dismissed a case seeking to annul the 2023 congress of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and oust its current leader, Özgür Özel. 

The ruling offers a rare reprieve for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political rivals, who have faced growing legal pressure over the past year.

The court in Ankara found that the case, which alleged procedural irregularities during the party’s 2023 congress, had lost merit. It pointed to the CHP's recent extraordinary congress, where Özel was re-elected as chairman, effectively reaffirming his leadership.

The verdict was welcomed by financial markets: the Borsa Istanbul index jumped over 4%, and the Turkish lira gained against the dollar. 

The ruling also comes after a damaging blow to the opposition earlier this year when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu — a potential presidential challenger — was jailed pending trial on corruption charges.

Had the court ruled against Özel, it could have deepened internal rifts within the CHP and strengthened Erdoğan’s grip ahead of the 2028 presidential election. The opposition fears Erdoğan may push for early elections to bypass constitutional term limits and seek another mandate.

Özel, 51, a sharp critic of Erdoğan, has risen in national prominence since İmamoğlu’s legal troubles, leading large anti-government rallies across the country. The CHP, a centrist secular party, is currently polling neck-and-neck with Erdoğan’s ruling AKP.

Despite the latest legal victory, the opposition remains under intense scrutiny. Many CHP officials, including İmamoğlu, are facing a range of corruption-related charges. 

While the CHP calls the crackdown politically motivated, the government insists that Turkey’s judiciary operates independently.