Top election board rejects CHP appeal over congress ruling

ANKARA

A security staff member of Republican People's Party (CHP) stands behind the closed main gate of the party's headquarters' entrance before a protest against allegations of vote buying at the CHP congress in November 2023, in Ankara on May 22, 2026.

Türkiye’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) has rejected an appeal against a court ruling that annulled the main opposition CHP’s congress process on grounds of “absolute nullity,” deepening uncertainty inside the party.

An Ankara court ruled on May 21 that the CHP’s 38th ordinary convention, where Özgür Özel defeated longtime chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, was a case of “complete nullity” due to alleged irregularities. The decision effectively reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu as party leader.

YSK rejected the application unanimously, with its reasoned decision expected to be announced later, according to reports citing YSK Chairman Serdar Mutta.

Following the decision, Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel held a brief phone call, Kılıçdaroğlu’s press adviser Atakan Sönmez said.

Sönmez said Kılıçdaroğlu told Özel that he intended to take the party to congress “at the most appropriate time.” Özel said he would evaluate the matter with his colleagues and respond afterward, Sönmez added.

No timetable has yet been set for the congress, and no decision has been made on a face-to-face meeting between the two figures, Sönmez said.

He also said Kılıçdaroğlu had no scheduled meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s first move was to dismiss three lawyers working at party headquarters, according to media reports.

Following the court decision on May 21, the Financial Stability Committee of the Treasury and Finance Ministry convened to assess the impact of market volatility on the economy.

The benchmark BIST 100 index dropped more than 6 percent during trading, prompting a circuit breaker mechanism before the close.