EditTurkish police evict ousted opposition leadership from CHP headquarters
CHP chair Özgür Özel led supporters in a march to parliament, where crowds chanted against "fascists" and Kılıçdaroğlu
Turkish riot police fired tear gas and forced entry into the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on Sunday, May 24, 2026, evicting its ousted leadership and escalating a crisis that critics say underscores the authoritarian drift under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Clouds of tear gas filled the CHP building as those inside resisted with shouts and thrown objects against a makeshift barricade. No serious injuries were reported. The operation followed a court ruling annulling the 2023 leadership election of current CHP chair Özgür Özel and reinstating former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who lost to Erdoğan in the 2023 presidential race.
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Meanwhile, Kılıçdaroğlu has moved swiftly to consolidate control, dismissing key party lawyers who appealed the court decision and calling for the ‘purification’ of the CHP, actions critics describe as an attempt to subdue internal opposition and realign the party.
Özel condemned the move as a “judicial coup” and vowed resistance. He led supporters in a march to parliament, where crowds chanted against “fascists” and Kılıçdaroğlu. “Until this struggle frees the party from occupation, our headquarters is here,” Özel declared.
The latest police escalation against @herkesicinCHP headquarters is beyond alarming.
This further attempt to intimidate the democratic opposition is unacceptable and further undermines the rule of law in Türkiye.
We stand with CHP, its leader @eczozgurozel, and all those forces… pic.twitter.com/rZYo5HejfG— PES 🌹🇪🇺 (@PES_PSE) May 24, 2026
Broader context of authoritarian consolidation
This episode fits a longer pattern of democratic erosion under Erdoğan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003 – first as prime minister, then as president since 2014. After a failed 2016 coup attempt, his government purged thousands of judges, prosecutors, academics, journalists, and civil servants, consolidating control over institutions. Reforms to the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and court packing have politicized the judiciary, turning it into a tool for targeting rivals under the guise of “rule by law” rather than rule of law.
Critics, including human rights groups and analysts, describe Turkey as an increasingly authoritarian regime. Opposition figures face imprisonment on corruption or terrorism-related charges often viewed as politically motivated. Prominent examples include the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan’s strongest potential rival and CHP’s presidential hopeful, on charges widely seen as fabricated to sideline him ahead of elections.
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The CHP, founded by modern Turkey’s secularist leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, has faced an intense crackdown, with hundreds of members and elected officials detained since 2024. Despite this, the party achieved a historic victory in the March 2024 local elections, winning the national popular vote for the first time in decades and retaining control of major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir -home to much of Turkey’s economic activity.
Economic strain amplifying political tensions
Turkey’s political turmoil unfolds against a dire economic backdrop. Decades of unorthodox policies under Erdoğan – such as resisting interest rate hikes despite high inflation – have led to currency crises, lira depreciation, and persistent price pressures. As of April 2026, annual inflation stood at around 32%, with elevated costs in food, housing, and transport exacerbating hardship for ordinary citizens.
Unemployment remains a challenge, particularly for youth, while poverty risks and informality persist. Recent orthodox adjustments under Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek have aimed to stabilize the economy, but structural issues, including low productivity, foreign debt burdens, and external shocks like regional conflicts, continue to weigh heavily. Analysts note that economic discontent significantly contributed to the CHP’s 2024 local gains, as voters punished the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Financial markets reacted sharply to the latest court ruling, reflecting investor fears of further democratic backsliding in this key NATO member.
The government denies interfering in the judiciary, insisting it operates independently and that investigations target genuine violations of political party laws. State media reported detentions linked to alleged irregularities in the 2023 CHP congress.
With national elections due in 2028 – but potentially earlier if Erdoğan, now in his 70s and facing term limits, seeks another run – this crisis risks further polarising Turkish society and testing the resilience of its democratic institutions. Özel and CHP supporters signal they will take the fight to the streets and squares, while the opposition navigates legal appeals and internal divisions.
As this domestic political turmoil unfolds, Turkey is set to host the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara on 7=8 July, positioning President Erdoğan as host to alliance leaders at a time when the country’s democratic credentials are under intense international scrutiny.
With Reuters
Caption: Supporters of ousted Republican People’s Party (CHP) chairman Ozgur Ozel shout slogans and wave flags during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey, 24 May 2026. Turkish riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to breach the party’s headquarters in Ankara and enforce a controversial appeals court ruling that annulled the 2023 party congress, removing Ozel and reinstating former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu. EPA/MURAT SAKA
Updated: May 25, 2026 - 05:46
