Turkey’s political crisis deepened after an Ankara court annulled the 2023 congress of the main opposition CHP, removing party chairman Özgür Özel and ordering the return of former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
The court cited alleged irregularities and vote-buying claims connected to the party congress that brought Özel to power.
For Erdoğan, this is a major political gift. Özel had helped lead the CHP after its strong showing in the 2024 municipal elections, while Kılıçdaroğlu is widely seen as a weak, uninspiring figure who already lost to Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential race.
By forcing Kılıçdaroğlu back into the leadership, the court decision risks returning the opposition to a candidate and leadership style that failed to defeat Erdoğan.