Turkish riot police stormed the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara on Sunday, using tear gas and rubber bullets to evict ousted leader Ozgur Ozel and his supporters. The operation followed an order from the Ankara governor's office to enforce a court ruling that had sparked a days-long standoff at the party's headquarters.
The political crisis began last Thursday when an appeals court annulled the results of the 2023 CHP congress, citing irregularities. The ruling ousted Ozel and reinstated former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Ozel has condemned the decision as a "judicial coup" and vowed to fight it through legal appeals, while Kilicdaroglu sought state help to take control of the party offices.
Following his eviction, Ozel led a march to the Turkish parliament, telling supporters the assembly would serve as their new headquarters. The pro-Kurdish DEM Party condemned the police action as a "disgrace to democracy" and a "scandal for the rule of law." However, AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik rejected the criticism, stating the judiciary was reaching a conclusion regarding internal struggles within the CHP.
This conflict comes amid a wider judicial crackdown on the CHP. Since 2024, hundreds of party members and elected officials have been detained on corruption charges, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been imprisoned since March last year. Observers suggest these legal cases are intended to neutralize the party before the next national election, which is set for 2028 but could be brought forward.