Turkey's Supreme Court Sends CHP Congress Nullification Case to Preliminary Review
Ankara's Regional Court of Justice (Bölge Adliye Mahkemesi) 36th Civil Chamber ruled on 21 May that the Republican People’s Party (CHP) 38th Ordinary Congress held on 4‑5 Nov 2023 was subject to an absolute nullification (“mutlak butlan”) and ordered the congress cancelled. The same judgment temporarily reinstated former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board pending a final decision.
The party appealed the ruling. On 17 July 2026 the file was transmitted to the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) 3rd Civil Chamber. By late July 2026 Yargıtay re‑classified the case from the “record” stage to “preliminary examination”. An investigative judge will compile a report and submit it to the panel; the substantive examination is expected after the judicial break, on or after 1 Sept 2026.
The development is being closely monitored as it could determine whether the nullification stands and affect the leadership of Turkey’s main opposition party.
Entities: Ankara Regional Court of Justice (Bölge Adliye Mahkemesi) · Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) · Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu · Republican People’s Party (CHP) · Özgür Özel
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The court ordered the temporary reinstatement of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board until the final decision. (court decision)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The decision was appealed and the file was sent to the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) 3rd Civil Chamber on 17 July 2026. (court filing)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Yargıtay re‑classified the case from “record” to “preliminary examination” in late July 2026. (court procedural update)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber ruled on 21 May that CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress was absolutely nullified and ordered its cancellation. (court decision)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The substantive examination by the Yargıtay panel is expected after 1 Sept 2026. (court procedural update)
- [● 8 SOURCES] An investigative judge (tetkik hakimi) will prepare a report for the Yargıtay panel. (court procedural update)