Hundreds of police officers entered the office building on Sunday after party members had blocked the entrances. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to regain control of the building. A university occupied by students was also cleared.
Supporters of Özel had barricaded themselves in the headquarters for three days. At the same time, supporters of the former chairman Kılıçdaroğlu, who was ousted in 2023, tried to gain access to the building, prompting police intervention. Large groups of demonstrators gathered outside the headquarters.
Also Party Board
The clearance followed internal party strife over a court ruling that invalidated the previous CHP leadership election. The legal battle had lasted three years. As a result, Ă–zgĂĽr Ă–zel lost his position as party leader.
Promotion
The court temporarily reinstated former CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as party leader. Most current members of the party board were also suspended by the court ruling.
On the Streets
Özel called the ruling a “judicial coup” and declared that the CHP would continue its struggle outside the party building. “From now on, the Republican People’s Party will be found on the streets or in the squares,” he said as he left the building.
The CHP has since filed an appeal against the ruling with the Turkish Supreme Court. Legal experts say a final decision could take more than a year.
CHP’s Rise
The political crisis comes amid intense tensions surrounding the Turkish opposition. Reference is made to the earlier arrest of popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as a significant political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Özel achieved an unexpected major victory over Erdogan’s Islamist AKP party in last year’s municipal elections. The next national elections are scheduled for 2028, but multiple sources report that early elections are possible if political unrest continues.
Critics say that the AKP leadership is using the Turkish judiciary and government apparatus to sow division within the CHP and thus prevent Ă–zel from remaining a formidable opponent to President Erdogan.