CHP internal crisis escalates after court‑ordered leadership change

A Turkish court ruling that annulled the Republican People’s Party (CHP) leadership led to the reinstatement of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as party chairman. In the aftermath, the party has faced intense internal disputes. Senior figures including mayors Vahap Seçer, Mansur Yavaş and Zeydan Karalar were named as members of a crisis‑management delegation tasked with mediating between rival factions.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s camp is reportedly considering disciplinary actions against several MPs—Veli Ağbaba, Ali Mahir Başarır, Burhanettin Bulut, Turan Taşkın Özer and Özgür Karabat—potentially “preventive expulsions.” Parallelly, party spokesperson Müslim Sarı announced the creation of a dialogue committee drawn from the party’s executive body to address the “mutlak butlan” controversy and to organize upcoming party congress meetings.

The internal feud has intensified after Özgür Özel’s claims that former mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was offered the party’s top post while detained; Kılıçdaroğlu’s team has denied the allegation. The clash between Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel, along with rumors of power‑plays, underscores the deepening split within the CHP as it navigates the legal and organizational fallout.