ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), reelected its chairman, Özgür Ozel, on Sunday. This election comes just two weeks after the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who had been seen as the strongest rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ozel called for an extraordinary congress to counter what he described as a government plot to appoint a caretaker for the party.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition mayor of Istanbul, was arrested on corruption charges, a move that has sparked widespread anti-government protests. Imamoglu had risen to prominence after defeating the ruling conservative Islamist parties in the 2019 local elections, ending a 25-year period of control over Istanbul. The opposition claims that the charges against him are politically motivated, while the government defends the independence of the judiciary.
Despite being imprisoned, Imamoglu was confirmed as the CHP’s presidential candidate for the upcoming 2028 elections, which many expect will occur sooner due to the escalating political tensions. Ozel remarked that he decided to convene the party congress on March 21, only two days following Imamoglu's arrest, in response to the imminent threat of a government-appointed caretaker for the CHP.
In his speech at the congress, Ozel criticized the government for attempting to intimidate the opposition and for failing to compete with the CHP on service. “They didn’t have the courage to compete with us in service, so instead they attempted to intimidate our municipalities and the opposition by using the might of the government against their rivals,” he stated. He accused the government of attempting to maintain its power by polarizing the public and instigating new conflicts.
Support for the CHP has also come from international figures, such as former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and a delegation from the European Parliament's Party of European Socialists. They visited CHP headquarters to express solidarity with those fighting for democracy and rule of law in Turkey. Reports indicated that Papandreou was present at the CHP congress on Sunday.
President Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered a substantial setback in last year’s municipal elections, especially in key cities like Istanbul and Ankara, where the CHP successfully retained control and made notable gains elsewhere. Since that election, many opposition mayors, including those from the CHP and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), have faced replacement with government-appointed caretakers based on terrorism charges — allegations that are strongly disputed by the opposition parties.
This political landscape in Turkey continues to evolve, as the opposition navigates challenges posed by government actions and seeks to consolidate its strength in anticipation of future elections. The actions against Imamoglu and the responses of the CHP highlight the ongoing tensions in Turkish politics, reflecting a broader struggle for democracy and accountability within the country's governance.
