CHP removes eight provincial chiefs in court‑ordered ‘mutlak butlan’ purge

Following a Turkish court ruling that declared the Republican People's Party (CHP) leadership void – referred to as a “mutlak butlan” – the party’s Central Executive Board (MYK) led by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced a sweeping reorganisation. Eight provincial chairmen – in Edirne, Isparta, Kastamonu, Konya, Tokat, Zonguldah, Yalova and Rize – were dismissed. Two of the dismissed chiefs, Konya’s Nejat Türktaş and Tokat’s Çağdaş Kurtgöz, were referred to the High Disciplinary Board for possible expulsion.

Seven new provincial leaders were appointed: Kenan Akın (Düzce), Özlem Becan (Edirne), Nazım Demir (Hakkari), Ahmet Tunçbilek (Isparta), Refik Serttaş (Konya), Mehmet Pank (Samsun) and Mesut Tutu (Yalova). The party spokesperson Müslim Sarı presented the changes at an MYK meeting, accusing the prior management of “parallel structures” and defending the party’s internal unity. Local reactions included protests in Zonguldah, criticism of the Samsun appointment by district leaders, and statements from regional mayors and MPs supporting the new leadership.

The purge reflects ongoing internal power struggles within the CHP as it prepares for upcoming elections.