Turkish police evict ousted CHP leaders from party HQ

Turkish riot police on Sunday forced their way into the headquarters of Turkey's main opposition party, using tear gas and rubber bullets to evict its ousted leadership in Ankara.

The move followed a court ruling on Thursday that nullified the 2023 election of Ozgur Ozel as chairperson of the Republican People's Party, known as the CHP.

The court suspended Ozel and members of the party's executive board and temporarily reinstated former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Ozel's ousted CHP leadership rejected the ruling as a "judicial coup" and vowed to remain day and night at the party's Ankara headquarters.

Kilicdaroglu's backers tried to take over the building

On Sunday, Kilicdaroglu's supporters tried to force entry into the building before police stepped in and took control of the building.

Some people tried to block them, but officers ultimately managed to evict those who remained inside.

"The Republican People's Party will from now be on the streets or in the squares," Ozel said as he was forced out of the building.

The CHP has lodged an appeal against Thursday's ruling with Turkey's Supreme Court, but legal experts say a ruling could take over a year.

Court decision a severe blow to the CHP

Kilicdaroglu led the party for 13 years without winning a national election. By contrast, Ozel secured a decisive victory over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP in the 2024 municipal polls in his first race as leader.

Ozel called on Saturday for a new party congress to be held as soon as possible, while Kilicdaroglu has said a congress would be held at an "appropriate" time.

The next national election is set for 2028, but Erdogan can call an early vote. His main challenger,Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a CHP member, has been imprisoned since March last year and is on trial on corruption charges.

Turkish opposition vows to fight ousting of leader

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Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

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