On Sunday, hundreds of police officers surrounded the Istanbul headquarters of Turkey’s main opposition party, intensifying a political standoff that began after a court decision replaced the party’s local leadership. Television broadcasts showed large groups gathering outside the CHP offices in defiance of the heavy security presence.
The CHP, founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the secular leader of modern Turkey, has faced mounting legal pressure since its breakthrough in last year’s local elections. The crackdown escalated further in March when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the party’s most prominent figure and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s chief rival, was jailed.
Party chairman Ozgur Ozel has described the wave of cases targeting his officials as a government-backed coup attempt, though the justice minister maintains that the judiciary is independent.
Tensions rose earlier this week when a local court annulled the CHP’s Istanbul leadership on grounds of irregularities and appointed a group of trustees led by former lawmaker Gursel Tekin, who was expected to take over on Monday.
The CHP rejected the appointment as illegitimate and announced it would not recognize any trustee leadership. On Sunday evening, Ozel urged supporters to rally in defense of what he called “Ataturk’s home.”
Ozel has warned that the ongoing confrontation could threaten the future of Turkey’s multi-party system. The crisis has also unsettled investors, prompting a sharp decline in Turkish financial markets.
The standoff now moves toward a crucial hearing on September 15 that could remove Ozel and his team from office, deepening political uncertainty. In response, the CHP has scheduled an extraordinary congress for September 21 in an effort to secure Ozel’s position through re-election.
