Police storm CHP headquarters
Turkish riot police forced their way into the headquarters of the country’s main opposition party on Sunday, days after a court dismissed its leadership.
Clouds of tear gas billowed outside the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building in Ankara, where party members had blocked the entrances with a makeshift barricade.
Footage from the scene showed those inside shouting and throwing objects towards the entrance, while police were sprayed with hoses.
Party leader Özgür Özel had vowed to defy an appeal court decision on Thursday which declared his election null and void, in a move further cementing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s grip on power.
Leadership dispute sparks clashes
The court decided that Özel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroğlu, a 77-year-old party veteran who was defeated by Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential election.
Turkish media reported that Kilicdaroğlu’s representatives had requested police carry out “necessary procedures” to hand over the headquarters to the new leadership, claiming they had so far been denied entry.
The city’s governor then instructed police to “implement the court decision”, according to a statement from his office.
“We are under attack,” Özel said in a video message shared on X as security forces sought entry to the building, where clashes were also reported between his supporters and those of Kilicdaroğlu.
Özel later emerged from the premises, telling crowds gathered outside: “They tried to uproot and throw us out – to where?”
He said the party would “from now be on the streets or in the squares, marching towards power”.
He then led hundreds of supporters through the streets of Ankara towards the Turkish parliament.
Concerns over Turkish democracy
The court’s decision overturned a 2025 ruling by a lower court that dismissed allegations of vote buying in the party election that made Özel leader.
It also means the party’s entire executive is replaced, with reports suggesting previous decisions are no longer recognised.
Human Rights Watch warned on Saturday that Erdoğan’s government was undermining Turkish democracy with “abusive tactics” against the CHP.
Erdoğan has led Turkey since 2003, first as prime minister and later as president, while Özel has accused the ruling AK Party of pursuing a strategy to “eliminate its rivals”.
The 72-year-old Turkish leader can only run for president again if he calls early elections before 2028 or changes the constitution.
Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said earlier this week that the appeal court ruling “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy”.
Previously chief prosecutor in Istanbul, Gürlek led investigations targeting opposition figures, including Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, widely seen as Erdoğan’s main political rival, who has been jailed for more than a year on corruption charges.
Source: BBC
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