CHP internal congress dispute raises doubts over election participation

CHP members Özgür Karabat and Gürsel Erol warned that recent removals of local party officials and disagreements over the timing of a party congress could threaten the party’s ability to contest upcoming elections. Karabat criticized the dismissal of provincial and district leaders, questioned the legality of postponing a congress, and highlighted the risk that the party might be unable to convene a legitimate congress before the legal deadline.

Erol stated that a new congress cannot be held under current conditions and noted that, according to Turkish election law, a party that does not hold a congress by July 26 could lose its right to run in elections. Legal experts, however, argue that the July deadline does not automatically bar the CHP, emphasizing that a court‑issued injunction, not the date itself, determines whether a congress can proceed.