Turkey's CHP opposition party sees court-driven purge of regional leaders

A Turkish court ruling reinstated Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and declared all party actions since 2023 null, a legal concept dubbed “Mutlak Butlan”. The decision triggered the dismissal of dozens of provincial and district officials, including Kars provincial chair Onur Uludaşdemir, who was removed and faced an expulsion request. Similar moves had previously affected the Erzurum chair. Party members in Ardahan warned of further pressure as the central leadership seeks to install temporary administrations.

The upheaval is viewed as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strategy to fracture the opposition. Opposition activist Özgür Özel, whose own bid for the CHP leadership was annulled, led a protest march to parliament on 24 May 2026, citing the court’s nullification of CHP decisions. Analysts describe the episode as a key step in Erdoğan’s alleged four‑stage plan to weaken the CHP ahead of upcoming elections.