Turkey’s main opposition party, the CHP, is convening an extraordinary congress today in a bid to resolve ongoing legal challenges stemming from vote-buying allegations tied to its 2023 ordinary congress. CHP Chair Özgür Özel, who took the party’s helm during that same 2023 congress, is expected to reaffirm his leadership for the third time. No challenger is anticipated.
This marks the second extraordinary congress of the year, following a previous gathering on April 6 initiated by Özel. While that congress was seen as a political maneuver, this one is aimed at securing legal protection for the party.
The main goal is to nullify lawsuits seeking to annul the 2023 congress, which saw the leadership shift from long-time chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to Özel. The congress slogan—'No to coups, no to trustees'—reflects the party's pushback against a perceived judicial crackdown.
Party statutes in Turkey require a congress every two—or, if requested, three—years, but the CHP is known for its frequent conventions, having held 60 to date—38 ordinary and 22 extraordinary—in its 102-year history. If the scheduled ordinary congress takes place later this year, likely in November, the CHP will break its own record for the number of conventions held within a term.
After a court-appointed interim committee, under the leadership of Gürsel Tekin, was installed in CHP’s Istanbul branch, more than half of the delegates called for a congress to dismiss the ongoing lawsuits and to prevent either a court-appointed or former administration from taking office.
Legal efforts to block the congress were rejected at every level—from district to provincial branches, and ultimately by the Supreme Election Board.
Over 1,100 delegates are expected to vote, though those from Istanbul, approximately 200, whose rights were suspended by court order, will be excluded. Delegates will vote on a single slate of candidates proposed by the leadership—a method typically criticized by intra-party opposition, though no alternative slates are expected this time.
CHP bylaws allow any delegate with the support of at least five percent of the total delegates to run for the chairmanship. The chair is elected by secret ballot and requires an absolute majority.
At the most recent congress, on April 6, Özel secured 1,171 of 1,276 votes cast. A similar outcome is expected on Sept. 21, further solidifying his mandate.
Major changes to the Party Assembly or High Disciplinary Board are not expected, barring withdrawals for personal or health reasons.
