Court Deals Another Blow To Turkey’s Main Opposition Party 

A Turkish court annulled the Istanbul provincial congress of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) this week, a ruling widely seen as part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on challengers to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Euronews reported. 

On Tuesday, the Istanbul court found that voting in the 2023 provincial congress was invalid, citing procedural irregularities and cash payments influencing votes. 

The court also ordered the dismissal of the Istanbul provincial chair, Özgür Çelik, and other administrators from the party. 

Çelik and other CHP officials criticized the verdict as politically motivated and vowed to appeal it. Other CHP members described it as a “blatant blow to our democracy” and part of the government’s ongoing efforts to undermine the opposition party.  

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said the ruling was a “precautionary” measure rather than a final judgment. 

Even so, the verdict comes amid a wider campaign against CHP-controlled municipalities, which since March has led to dozens of opposition mayors and officials being arrested on corruption charges. 

Among them is Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose arrest triggered the largest protests in Turkey in decades amid concerns of democratic backsliding. 

Critics claim that the government is using the courts to hobble İmamoğlu – seen as Erdoğan’s main rival – ahead of future elections, while the ruling party insists the judiciary is independent. 

Tuesday’s ruling sent shockwaves through financial markets, with Turkey’s benchmark BIST 100 index dropping almost six percent in early trading before closing 3.57 percent lower at 10,877 points. 

The sharp fall echoed investor panic following İmamoğlu’s arrest in March, according to the Financial Times. 

Observers added that Tuesday’s verdict also comes ahead of a separate case in Ankara that could nullify the 2023 party congress, which elected the current CHP leader, Özgür Özel.  

A judgment against him could reinstate former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, whose tenure drew criticism after he lost the 2023 presidential election to Erdoğan.  

Political analysts warned that the crackdown would further weaken Turkey’s opposition ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2028.  

Since 2019, the CHP has gained control of major cities, including Istanbul, and made further gains in last year’s municipal elections. 

Recent polls suggested that the main opposition could defeat Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party if elections were held today.