On May 21, the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice ruled that CHP’s (Republican People’s Party) 38th Ordinary Elective Congress was legally invalid due to “absolute nullity”.
Last year, a lower court ruled against claims of irregularities and misconduct in the CHP Congress and Özel’s election, but this recent decision overturned the previous verdict.
This ruling, “absolute nullity”, means annulling the congress, all decisions and appointments made from then on. This includes invalidating Özgür Özel’s chairmanship, the current central executive board, party council and high disciplinary board.
With this rule, Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice reinstated former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his administration, removing the current Chair Özgür Özel who had defeated Kılıçdaroğlu at the party’s 38th congress held on 5 November 2023.
Hours after the Court’s rule, Özel spoke first before the party council, and then the public gathered late at night before the Party Headquarter in Ankara. Özel named the ruling as “coup plot” and added “But these coup plotters don’t come with tanks, cannons, rifles or camouflage; these coup plotters come in judges’ and prosecutors’ robes”.
Özel emphasized that “We will not surrender” and went on: “Our crime is making the CHP the leading party after 47 years, defeating the AKP for the first time since its founding. Our crime is being the hope of pensioners and minimum wage earners. (…) Erdoğan intends to leave the nation without candidates, without options. The CHP stands firm against all coup plotters, collaborators and their career ambitions.”
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also made a statement. He said: “The court’s decision regarding our 38th Ordinary Congress should not become a reason for division, but an opportunity to unite under the shade of our century-old plane tree. (…) All party members should receive the decision calmly. Our party will solve its problems internally”.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said the ruling “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy”.
Vatan Party leader Doğu Perinçek was one of the leaders who made an elaborate statement on the ruling and its outcome.
Here is his evaluation.
Leadership bought with money
If the leadership positions of the main opposition party, or of any political party, can be bought with money in a country, then democracy cannot be said to function properly in that country. In the contemporary world, the parliamentary regimes are described as party democracies. In such systems, the role of political parties is crucial, because parties come to power. Therefore, the will of the people ultimately takes shape as the will of political parties and is put into practice through them.
The court’s reasoning is written with great care. It is a well-prepared and solidly evidenced justification. When we look at the reasoning of the court’s decision dated May 21, 2026, we understand that the leadership seat held by Mr. Özgür Özel has been bought with money. In that sense, it is no different from walking into a furniture store and paying cash for a chair, except that this one is a very expensive chair. We are speaking of transactions involving tens of millions of dollars. It is CHP members themselves who are exposing the realities of the last party congress. Unfortunately, and with great sorrow, I must say this in the name of Turkish democracy: CHP’s leadership was effectively put up for sale at the last party congress.
In that congress, the margin was already very small, only 18 votes. If just ten delegates had changed sides, the will of the congress would have been in favor of Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu.
The sides of the confrontation
Right after the court’s decision was announced, a major political confrontation took its shape again. On one side stand Türkiye’s national forces, producers and the people. On the other side stand US and European imperialism, which seek to determine who governs Türkiye. We see that the pro-American and pro-Israeli wing within the DEM Party, the Good Party, the Victory Party which are US-backed political projects, and then the pseudo-leftists immediately stepped forward and opposed the decision.
In other words, the so-called nationalists and the pseudo-leftists have lined up against Türkiye and against the court decision. Therefore, the issue has now reached another dimension. It is no longer merely an internal matter of CHP. It has led a confrontation at both the national and international levels.
“Kılıçdaroğlu’s path is the Path of Atatürk”
The force that will resolve CHP’s issues and bring CHP back to the founding political line is CHP itself. This decision has opened the way for that. The path Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu has chosen is the path of Atatürk. He takes a very clear stance against the ones deeply in corruption, and he takes a sovereigntist position. The CHP base also supports this stance. Despite Özgür Özel’s desperate calls and efforts, no significant mass has gathered in front of CHP Headquarters, nor in Istanbul, nor in Izmir, nor anywhere else. This is a good thing for Türkiye. CHP is the party that founded the Republic, established the Parliament and formed the first government. Respect for judicial decisions is in the CHP’s very spirit.
It is clear that the US and Europe were involved in the conspiracy that removed Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu. The positions of Ekrem İmamoğlu and Özgür Özel, who sit on chairs bought with money, are also evident. Turkish public knows their repeated messages to the US and Europe and their appeals for foreign support. They don’t take any stance against the forces threatening Türkiye.
Türkiye cannot reconcile with the US and Israel
We see some statements calling for neutrality, reconciliation and compromise. But how can they reconcile? Who can reconcile Türkiye with the US, Israel and Europe under the current conditions? Just as you can’t reconcile the US with Türkiye, you can’t reconcile the national forces with those under US guidance within CHP. Türkiye has its own national stance and national reflexes. The will of political parties cannot be bought with money, especially a party founded by Atatürk.
A CHP on Atatürk’s line will not remain in opposition
A CHP under the guidance of the US and Europe can never come to power. The era in which the US and Europe determined governments in Türkiye is now behind us. A CHP that returns back to Atatürk’s founding line, however, will not remain in opposition.
The path promised by figures like Özel and İmamoğlu does not lead to power. Do not be deceived by the polls. In the end, the nation will decide in favor of the country’s independence, national sovereignty, a production-based economy and clearing Türkiye of terrorism.
Those who choose their allies also choose their future. Since Özel and İmamoğlu have chosen their friends from the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), and from the pro-Israeli and pro-American faction of the DEM Party, they can never form a government in Türkiye. Some of their friends are already in prison, others are on the edge of prison. Coming to power with the support of Israel and the US is nothing but a fantasy.