Turkish Police Ordered to Evacuate Opposition Party Headquarters

Turkish authorities on Sunday ordered police to evacuate the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara. The move follows an appeals court ruling on Thursday that nullified the party's 2023 congress and annulled the election of current leader Özgür Özel, paving the way for former CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu to return to the leadership.

Crowds of opposition supporters and police have already gathered outside the party building. Özel described the court's decision as a "judicial coup" and said he would remain at the party headquarters "day and night" until he had exhausted all legal avenues of appeal.

The court cited unspecified irregularities in the 2023 leadership election to justify its ruling. Critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government say it is yet another attempt to weaken the opposition through the courts and state institutions.

The CHP is among the strongest political forces in the country according to recent polls and is seen as the main challenger to Erdogan's camp.

In response, Özel has called for a new party congress to be held as soon as possible, while Kilicdaroglu says it will take place at an "appropriate time". Despite the court ruling, CHP deputies on Saturday elected Özel as chairman of the party's parliamentary group, signaling their support for him.

(reuters, max)