The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has clearly voted for its leader Özgür Özel at an extraordinary party conference in Ankara on Sunday. According to the media reports, 835 of the 917 delegates voted for the 51-year-old politician, who was the only candidate. The party sees itself as well-equipped to deal with legal and political attacks thanks to the unanimous vote.
Proceedings against party leadership to be dismissed
The background to the vote is ongoing legal proceedings in which the CHP leadership is accused of influencing votes at the party congress two years ago through bribery. The party rejects the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. With Özel’s confirmation in office, the CHP declares the debate closed. The trial is set to continue in October.
Özel criticizes the government for influencing the judiciary
In his speech at the party conference, Özel accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government of attempting to influence the opposition through the judiciary. However, he emphasized to the applause of the delegates that they would not allow themselves to be used as “political pawns.”
Change of course shows effect
Özel succeeded long-time party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in November 2023 after the latter lost the presidential election to Erdoğan. Since then, the CHP has been pursuing a strategic renewal—with more approachability, public presence, and personnel openness.
The new course bore fruit in the local elections in spring 2024. For the first time in decades, the CHP became the strongest force in the country and won numerous mayoral posts – including, once again, the metropolises of Istanbul and Ankara. Since the local election success and the growing popularity of the CHP, numerous CHP members, including several mayors, have been arrested.
Support for Imamoğlu
Özel is also considered a close confidant of the popular Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who was arrested and removed from office in March this year. Imamoğlu is believed to play a central role in a possible opposition alliance against Erdoğan in future elections. Özel has repeatedly affirmed his support for him.