Turkey court annuls main opposition party's 2023 congress in latest blow

May 21, 2026

Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), speaks to the media at party headquarters after a Turkish court dismissed a case seeking to remove him and annul the party's 2023 congress, in Ankara, Turkey, October 24, 2025. REUTERS/Efekan Akyuz — Efekan Akyuz

ANKARA, May 21 (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Thursday annulled the 2023 congress of the main opposition Republican People's Party in which current chairman Ozgur Ozel was elected, dealing a potentially big blow to President Tayyip Erdogan's political challengers.

The Ankara court said former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu should replace current leader Ozel.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Jonathan Spicer )