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Former CHP General Secretary Önder Sav Resigns Amid Court‑Ordered Party Nullification
Former Republican People’s Party (CHP) General Secretary Önder Sav announced his resignation on 20 May 2026, together with his wife, children and son‑in‑law, during a press conference in the Turkish parliament. Sav said the Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice’s absolute annulment (“mutlak butlan”) of the party’s 38th ordinary congress had triggered unlawful dismissals, a breach of the party constitution and a departure from Atatürk’s founding principles. He warned that the party’s internal democracy was being damaged and that the Party Council’s membership had fallen below the required 38 members.
Sav’s resignation was joined by other senior figures, including Yeni Party MP Aylin Yaman and Muğla MP Gizem Özcan, who attended the press event. The decision sparked a wave of resignations across the CHP, with many local officials and members reportedly leaving to join the newly formed Yeni Party. The crisis also attracted commentary from AK Party prosecutor Savcı Sayan, who claimed to fulfill a 2008 vow to sacrifice a lamb after Sav’s departure.
The resignations and the court’s ruling have intensified internal disputes within the CHP and raised questions about the party’s future direction and leadership ahead of upcoming elections.
Entities
Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice · Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice · Aylin Yaman · Gizem Özcan · Republican People's Party (CHP) · Savcı Sayan · Yeni Party · Önder Sav
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sav announced his resignation with his family at a press conference in the Turkish parliament. www.turkgun.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The internal crisis led to widespread resignations within the CHP. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice issued an absolute annulment (mutlak butlan) decision on the CHP’s 38th ordinary congress. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Önder Sav resigned from the CHP. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sav had been a member of the CHP for 70 years and served as its general secretary. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sav criticized the current CHP leadership for violating the party constitution and not convening a new congress. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The court decision caused many Party Council members to resign, reducing the council below the required minimum of 38 members. www.turkgun.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 2 SOURCES] New Party MP Aylin Yaman and Muğla MP Gizem Özcan attended the press conference. www.turkgun.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sav criticized CHP leadership for violating the party constitution and not convening a new congress. www.turkgun.com · www.agos.com.tr · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Resignations reduced the CHP Party Council membership to fewer than the required 38 members. www.agos.com.tr · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
- [● 2 SOURCES] MPs Aylin Yaman and Gizem Özcan attended the press conference with Sav. www.turkgun.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] Sav claimed that CHP had moved away from its founding principles and Atatürk’s legacy. www.tr724.com · www.turkgun.com · www.korkusuz.com.tr · www.agos.com.tr · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr · +1 more