Turkish police evict opposition leader Özgür Özel from party headquarters

Özgür Özel

Turkish police have evicted opposition leader Özgür Özel and his supporters from the headquarters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Ankara, following a court ruling that reinstated his predecessor.

Footage broadcast by Turkish media on 24 May showed Mr Özel tearing up a court document presented to him inside the building before police officers escorted him out.

The eviction follows an Ankara court decision to annul the CHP's 38th party congress held in 2023, which had elected Mr Özel as leader. The ruling effectively reinstates former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the party's previous executive board.

Addressing supporters gathered outside the building in the Turkish capital, Mr Özel vowed that his faction would regain control.

"We may be leaving the headquarters today, but we will return," Mr Özel said.

The political dispute has triggered immediate economic instability. The Turkish lira fell to a historic low of 45.7425 against the US dollar on 22 May, losing approximately 0.3% of its value following the court's announcement, according to the Reuters news agency.

On 21 May, Mr Özel confirmed that the CHP had lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeals to challenge the decision. He described the lower court's ruling as a "coup against the people" and urged the country's highest judicial body to intervene.

"I hope the supreme court will overturn this decision and save Turkey from disaster," Mr Özel said, adding that his party would continue to resist the move.

The court's decision has divided opinion within Turkish politics. CHP Deputy Chairman Burhanettin Bulut wrote on social media that the party did not recognise the ruling.

However, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek defended the court's actions, describing the judiciary as "independent". Mr Gürlek, who previously served as an Istanbul prosecutor, has a history of overseeing high-profile state prosecutions against CHP figures.

Mr Kılıçdaroğlu has not yet commented publicly on his legal reinstatement or the eviction of his successor, maintaining a silence that has characterised his stance throughout the legal proceedings.