CHP faces uncertain path after absolute nullity ruling

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ANKARA, Turkey — A Turkish appeals court ruling declaring the Republican People’s Party’s 38th Ordinary Congress “absolutely null” has opened an unprecedented legal and political process inside the country’s main opposition party.

According to BBC Turkish, the decision marks the first time in Turkey that a political party leadership has effectively been removed through an “absolute nullity” ruling. The ruling does not only affect the leadership of Özgür Özel, who replaced Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu after the 2023 party congress. It also raises questions over congress decisions, bylaw amendments, party program changes and institutional structures created over the past three years.

The decision has placed three questions at the center of the political debate: how Kılıçdaroğlu could return to the party leadership, which legal and political routes Özel’s team may pursue, and whether the CHP could face a new internal split.

What the ruling means

The court ruling opens the way for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was elected chairman at the CHP’s 37th Ordinary Congress on 25–26 July 2020, to return to office together with the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board members elected at that congress.

The decision does not only challenge Özgür Özel’s leadership. It also means that extraordinary congresses held after the 38th Ordinary Congress, amendments to the party statute and changes to the party program may be considered legally void.

This could affect structures established under the revised party statute, including the Presidential Candidate Office and other institutional arrangements created after the leadership change.

For that reason, the issue is not limited to who sits in the chairman’s office. It also concerns the entire political and administrative architecture the CHP has built in recent years.

Özel leadership vows to resist

Özgür Özel’s leadership described the ruling as a “political coup” and decided to continue both legal and political resistance.

After an extraordinary meeting of the party’s central executive board, Özel said his team would not recognize the political consequences of the ruling and would continue the struggle inside the party. He also announced that the CHP had filed an appeal with the Court of Cassation and would apply to the Supreme Election Council.

For the Özel leadership, one of the most critical issues will be the position of the Supreme Election Council, which had previously recognized the extraordinary congresses and the 39th Ordinary Congress held under the current leadership.

If the council maintains that those congresses remain valid, Özel’s team may gain a stronger legal and political basis for continuing its challenge.

How Kılıçdaroğlu could return

The ruling appears to open a path for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to return as CHP chairman. However, the process may not be simple because party balances have changed significantly since 2020.

Sources close to Kılıçdaroğlu have emphasized that he does not want the party to split. They say he is expected to seek dialogue with the Özel leadership first, rather than immediately pushing for an extraordinary congress.

One possible scenario discussed in party circles is that Kılıçdaroğlu could return to the leadership and then initiate an ordinary congress calendar starting from neighborhood and district delegates.

This would mean rebuilding the party’s internal process through the regular congress mechanism rather than forcing an immediate extraordinary congress.

Internal balances have shifted

Although the ruling points back to the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board elected at the 37th Congress, the political balance inside those bodies has changed over time.

Some figures who were part of the Kılıçdaroğlu-era party organs later joined the Özel leadership or sided with the “change” camp during the 38th Congress. Others became mayors, resigned from the party or took up parliamentary positions.

This means that even if Kılıçdaroğlu returns to the chairmanship, it may not be easy for him to control every decision inside the party.

Both camps claim that they have the support of a majority within key party bodies, but the real balance remains uncertain.

Extraordinary congress option may return

One of the strongest possibilities now being discussed is an extraordinary congress.

Because the court did not appoint a trustee but instead issued an absolute nullity ruling, Kılıçdaroğlu would not be legally forced to take the party immediately to an extraordinary congress.

However, if he returns to office, the Özel camp is expected to push for an extraordinary congress, possibly through delegate signatures.

Under the CHP statute, an extraordinary congress can be called by the chairman, the Party Assembly or an absolute majority of delegates.

Party sources say the Özel team may try to use the delegate route if it concludes that the Party Assembly is too divided or uncertain.

Could a new party emerge?

For some time, CHP circles have discussed the possibility that Özel and his supporters could continue through a “backup party” if the legal process drags on.

Özel, however, has rejected the idea of abandoning the CHP. He said the party belongs to its members and used the phrase “We are the homeowners” to underline that his leadership would continue the struggle inside the CHP rather than outside it.

Still, if the appeal process lasts a long time and an election calendar approaches, the possibility of a separate political vehicle may return to the agenda.

Such a move would likely be framed not as a split by choice, but as a tactical response to legal uncertainty.

Disciplinary process under discussion

Another topic being discussed in party circles is whether disciplinary mechanisms could be used if Kılıçdaroğlu returns.

Some figures close to Kılıçdaroğlu suggest that party members facing corruption or irregularity allegations could be asked to “clear their names first” before continuing in active party roles.

There is speculation that suspension of membership, rather than expulsion, could be considered for some figures, including mayors or party officials facing legal proceedings.

However, no rapid disciplinary move is expected. The balance inside the High Disciplinary Board and the Party Assembly remains sensitive, with supporters of both camps present in key bodies.

Opposition parties back Özel’s position

Most opposition parties have framed the ruling not simply as an internal CHP matter, but as an intervention in democratic politics.

Özel has said that the opposition is not merely supporting the CHP, but defending the democratic political ground.

One of the most notable reactions came from Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli, a partner in the ruling People’s Alliance. Bahçeli said the CHP leadership’s position of “not recognizing the court decision” was not correct, but he also called on Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel to find a common formula for the party’s future.

His statement was interpreted as a sign that even within the ruling bloc, the political consequences of the decision are being closely watched.

CHP enters a period of uncertainty

The absolute nullity ruling has created one of the most complex internal crises in the CHP’s recent history.

The next stage will depend on several actors and institutions: the Court of Cassation, the Supreme Election Council, the Party Assembly, delegates, Kılıçdaroğlu, Özel and the wider opposition bloc.

The outcome could reshape the party’s leadership structure, its presidential candidate process, its internal legitimacy debate and its role in the opposition landscape.

For now, one thing is clear: the ruling has moved the CHP into an uncertain period in which legal procedure and political strategy will advance side by side.

The party’s future may be determined not only in courtrooms, but also in party organs, congress halls, opposition alliances and public reaction.

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