A Turkish court has effectively removed the main opposition leader, Özgür Özel, in a ruling that has deepened political tensions and rattled financial markets.
The Ankara appeals court annulled the 2023 Republican People’s Party (CHP) congress that elected Özel as chairman, citing procedural irregularities.
The appeals court ruled that former CHP Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu - who lost to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an election earlier in 2023 - should replace his successor Özel on an interim basis.
The move is until a definitive court decision is reached after the party’s November 2023 congress was declared void on grounds of “absolute nullity,” on Thursday.
Meanwhile, an Ankara court on Friday rejected an appeal by CHP against the ruling, the Cumhuriyet daily and other Turkish media said.
The CHP has appealed also to a higher court, as well as the Supreme Election Board (YSK), but no rulings have yet been made on those.
Court ruling sparks political backlash
The ruling is being viewed as a major setback for Türkiye's opposition, which has increasingly challenged Erdoğan’s two-decade rule.
The CHP rejected the decision outright, calling it an attack on democracy.
The government, however, defended the court’s decision and said it reinforced trust in the rule of law, rejecting claims that the judiciary is being used against political opponents.
The political shock quickly spilled into financial markets.
The benchmark Borsa Istanbul index fell by around 6%, triggering an automatic circuit breaker. Government bonds also declined, while traders reported heavy foreign exchange intervention by the central bank to stabilise the currency.
Kılıçdaroğlu called for calm and urged restraint, saying he hoped the situation would ultimately benefit the country.
For now, the decision leaves Türkiye’s main opposition in turmoil at a politically sensitive moment, with further legal and political battles expected in the days ahead.
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