Özgür Özel Secures Second Term as CHP Chairman

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) reelected Özgür Özel as its leader during an extraordinary congress on Sunday, consolidating the party’s stance against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government amid a widening crackdown on dissent.

Özel, 50, secured an overwhelming majority, receiving 1,171 out of 1,276 delegate votes, according to the opposition-aligned Anka News Agency. He ran unopposed after Antalya Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal withdrew his candidacy and former CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Berhan Şimşek failed to gather sufficient support.

The congress took place against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the government and opposition, following the arrest last month of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the CHP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. İmamoğlu, a prominent critic of Erdoğan, was jailed on corruption and terrorism charges—allegations the CHP dismisses as politically motivated.

Mass Protests and Government Crackdown

The CHP has spearheaded nationwide protests since İmamoğlu’s detention, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets, including large numbers of students. Authorities have responded with a heavy hand, detaining nearly 2,000 demonstrators, about 300 of whom remain in pretrial detention.

In a fiery speech before Sunday’s vote, Özel accused the government of undermining democracy and vowed to intensify protests, announcing plans for weekly rallies in different cities and regular demonstrations in Istanbul. He also claimed more than 7 million people have signed a CHP petition demanding early elections.

The party’s defiance comes as Erdoğan faces mounting criticism from Western governments and human rights groups over Turkey’s democratic backsliding, including the jailing of opposition figures, suppression of independent media, and erosion of judicial independence.

Allegations of Electoral Interference

The CHP called the extraordinary congress amid fears that Turkish authorities might attempt to appoint a state-appointed trustee to oversee the party. The move followed a criminal investigation into alleged irregularities during the CHP’s last leadership election in November 2023, which Erdoğan previously described as "shady."

Prosecutors are examining claims that delegates were bribed with money, phones, and property in exchange for votes. Party officials involved in the 2023 congress, where Özel first became chairman, are expected to be questioned.

Despite internal dissent—including a rival "Balance and Solidarity List" proposed by CHP lawmaker Oğuz Kaan Salıcı—Özel’s leadership was reaffirmed. Former CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who led the party from 2010 to 2023, opted not to run.

The CHP’s resurgence was evident in last year’s local elections, where it retained control of Istanbul and Ankara while gaining ground in other cities—a significant blow to Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

As political turmoil deepens, the CHP’s renewed mandate signals a hardening opposition stance ahead of a potential showdown in 2028—or sooner, if early elections are called.t