Önder Sav Resigns from Turkey's CHP Amid Court Annulment Dispute
Former CHP General Secretary Önder Sav, a member of the Republican People's Party for 70 years, announced his resignation together with his wife, children and son‑in‑law at a press conference in the Turkish Parliament. He condemned the party leadership for violating the party constitution and for failing to convene a new congress after the Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice issued a "mutlak butlan" (absolute annulment) decision on 20 May 2026 that invalidated CHP’s 38th ordinary congress.
Sav said the court decision triggered a wave of resignations that reduced the Party Council to fewer than the required 38 members, undermining internal party democracy. Members of parliament Aylin Yaman (Yeni Parti) and Gizem Özcan (Yeni Parti) joined Sav at the press conference. Sav warned that the party had drifted from its founding principles and Atatürk’s legacy.
The resignations spurred a broader exodus, with many local party officials and mayors leaving CHP to join the newly formed Yeni Parti. In a separate reaction, AK Party‑affiliated prosecutor Sayan posted a video stating he had fulfilled an eight‑year‑old promise by performing a sacrificial animal ritual after Sav’s resignation.
Entities: Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice · Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice · Aylin Yaman · Gizem Özcan · Republican People's Party (CHP) · Önder Sav
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sav announced his resignation with his family at a press conference in the Turkish parliament. (Articles 1 and 3)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The internal crisis led to widespread resignations within the CHP. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ankara 36th Regional Court of Justice issued an absolute annulment (mutlak butlan) decision on the CHP’s 38th ordinary congress. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Önder Sav resigned from the CHP. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sav had been a member of the CHP for 70 years and served as its general secretary. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sav criticized the current CHP leadership for violating the party constitution and not convening a new congress. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The court decision caused many Party Council members to resign, reducing the council below the required minimum of 38 members. (All articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] New Party MP Aylin Yaman and Muğla MP Gizem Özcan attended the press conference. (Articles 1 and 3)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sav criticized CHP leadership for violating the party constitution and not convening a new congress. (Sav)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Resignations reduced the CHP Party Council membership to fewer than the required 38 members. (party council)
- [● 2 SOURCES] MPs Aylin Yaman and Gizem Özcan attended the press conference with Sav. (press conference)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Sav claimed that CHP had moved away from its founding principles and Atatürk’s legacy. (Sav)