Turkey's primary opposition party, the CHP, prepares alternative strategies - What could these potential outcomes be?
CHP Braces for Extraordinary Congress Amid Political Crisis
The Republican People's Party (CHP), Turkey's main opposition party, is accelerating preparations for its 39th Ordinary Congress, as local delegate elections largely complete and district congresses are underway. This comes amidst a political crisis within the party, following the annulment of its Istanbul provincial congress by a court.
The annulment of the Istanbul provincial congress has put pressure on the CHP, but the party is showing resilience. Gursel Tekin, a veteran CHP figure, has been named to head the Istanbul provincial branch following the court's decision.
If a ruling of "absolute nullity" is handed down, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the former leader of the CHP, would be reinstated. However, senior figures within the party have indicated that if Kilicdaroglu attempts to return under judicial order, he would be denied entry to party headquarters, with expulsion mechanisms considered a last resort.
The CHP is mobilizing for extraordinary meetings as a safeguard. More than 400 provincial delegates have already signed notarized petitions to call an extraordinary provincial congress. The target is set at over 500 signatures for the congress to proceed.
The party is also drafting multiple scenarios for the potential annulment of its 38th Ordinary Congress. It is preparing to file a lawsuit seeking the annulment of Turkey's 2017 constitutional referendum in response to the recent appointment of a trustee to its Istanbul provincial branch.
The CHP is also launching a series of legal objections to reverse the court's ruling. This includes submitting an appeal to the same civil court that issued the decision and preparing appeals to the Court of Appeals, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Election Council (YSK).
In a bid to widen its political base, the CHP is seeking to coordinate opposition actions, including joint campaigns with other opposition parties. The party is also preparing major strategies and counterattack plans in response to the political crisis within its ranks.
Rumors of preparations for a "reserve party" have already surfaced, although no names have been publicly disclosed. The CHP leadership has tightened internal discipline to maintain unity, referring Tekin and four other figures who accepted court-appointed trustee roles to the disciplinary committee with demands for expulsion.
The CHP is not backing down. It is planning to use this precedent as a counter-move, signaling its determination to contest what it sees as judicial overreach. The party is set to call an extraordinary congress if the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP is annulled, scheduled for September 21, 2025, to prevent delays in internal elections, especially amid legal challenges and attempts to appoint trustees within the party leadership. The fallback plan is seen as critical to prevent any trustee-appointed leadership from consolidating control or delaying internal elections.
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