After court-appointed interim chair Gürsel Tekin entered the main opposition CHP’s Istanbul provincial office under police escort, the party announced it would close the building and relocate operations to its Bahçelievler branch, notifying authorities.
Police used pepper spray inside the CHP’s Istanbul offices on Sept. 8 to disperse dozens of party supporters and clear the way for Tekin amid fierce protests over his appointment. The building had been barricaded by party members and supporters since late the previous day.
Both the court-appointed and the elected chairs are currently inside the building. Ousted provincial chair Özgür Çelik and several deputies remain on the third and fourth floors, while Tekin, his supporters, and police occupy other parts of the premises.
Çelik announced that the office has been designated as CHP Chair Özgür Özel’s working space in Istanbul.
Journalists from pro-government outlets were granted access, while opposition-leaning reporters were denied entry.
CHP Chair Özel has not visited the building, as the party marks its 102nd founding anniversary.
The court suspended the provincial leadership last week, citing alleged vote-buying at the party’s 2023 congress, and appointed Tekin as interim chair. In response, the party called for an extraordinary congress on Sept. 21, backed by 900 delegates—excluding those who were ousted.
The standoff comes amid a broader crackdown on CHP-run municipalities and the March arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which sparked mass protests.
