Kılıçdaroğlu moves to void Özel’s parliamentary post
ANKARA
Reinstated main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on May 26 applied to Türkiye’s parliament to invalidate the election of Özgür Özel as parliamentary leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), deepening a crisis triggered by a court ruling that annulled the party’s 2023 convention.
Özel had been elected group chair during an emergency meeting held after a court decision declaring the CHP congress “completely void,” a ruling that reinstated former leader Kılıçdaroğlu as party chairman.
Reports said 96 CHP lawmakers participated in the vote, with 95 backing Özel and one ballot declared invalid. Fifteen absent lawmakers also reportedly conveyed support, bringing total backing for Özel to 110 deputies.
Kılıçdaroğlu had initially congratulated Özel after the vote, telling reporters, “Good luck to Mr. Özgür in his new duty.”
The latest move marks a further escalation in the struggle for control of the CHP following last week’s court ruling overturning the party’s 2023 leadership election. The decision removed Özel from the chairmanship and restored Kılıçdaroğlu, prompting protests within the party and criticism from opposition figures.
Özel has rejected calls to form a new party and has continued to present himself as the CHP’s elected leader amid mounting internal tensions.
Addressing supporters in the western city of İzmir on May 26, he proposed that CHP members directly elect the party leader in an effort to resolve the growing crisis.
“Let’s have 2 million CHP members elect a chairman,” Özel said, arguing that a vote by the party base could end tensions.
“This is not between Mr. Kemal and me, but between the nation and [President] Tayyip Erdoğan... For this reason, I beg you... Listen to the members, listen to the streets, let’s quickly eliminate this problem. Let this anger end, let’s march to power together. The [ruling] AKP’s plan is to defeat us once again, don’t let them.”
The court ruling came one day after Kılıçdaroğlu released a video message calling on the CHP to “purify itself,” intensifying divisions within the party over the legal proceedings. He is listed as a victim in the lawsuit concerning the convention.
Riot police forced their way into the CHP headquarters on May 24.