Court annuls CHP leadership election, Ozel ousted

Ankara's court has invalidated the leadership election of Turkey's primary opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), from 2023, appointing former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu as the interim leader. This decision, reported by Anadolu state news agency, reverses the election that positioned Ozgur Ozel as the current leader. In light of the ruling, the CHP has called on senior officials to convene at its headquarters in Ankara. Following the announcement, Istanbul's BIST 100 stock index fell by over six percent. The case revolves around allegations of vote buying during the CHP congress in November 2023, with prosecutors asserting that Ozel coerced delegates through job offers and kickbacks. Although an earlier court dismissed the case in October, prosecutors successfully appealed. Critics argue that the case is politically charged, aimed at weakening the CHP, which triumphed over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP in the 2024 local elections and has gained traction in polls. This development may bolster Erdogan's hold on power.