Kılıçdaroğlu says no place for 'division' in CHP after court ruling

Court restores Kılıçdaroğlu to CHP helm

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Tuesday declared there is "no place" in Türkiye's Republican People’s Party (CHP) for those seeking conflict, speaking hours after a court ruling restored him to the opposition party's chairmanship and invalidated the November 2023 leadership congress. The CHP's official website has been updated to list Kılıçdaroğlu as chair following the decision, which applied the principle of "absolute nullity" to the gathering that brought Özgür Özel to power.

Speaking to TGRT News, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that "those who fight and favor division have no place under this sacred roof," adding that the party's "march to power has begun." He noted that the CHP would "purify itself" and emerge victorious from the internal crisis that has engulfed the party since the contested leadership vote nearly three years ago.

Leadership battle intensifies

Former CHP lawmaker Muslum Sarı met with Kılıçdaroğlu at his Ankara residence on Tuesday and told reporters afterward that preparations are underway for a mass rally scheduled for Saturday. Sarı said the party is following daily affairs and organizing the event while rival factions accuse each other of undermining party democracy and attempting to seize control through illegitimate means.

Sarı also addressed remarks by former CHP Chair Özgür Özel, stating that although Özel had suggested holding a congress at an appropriate time, all dialogue channels had closed when discussions began on how to proceed. "The path is clear, the roadmap is clear, and what needs to be done is clear," Sarı said, adding that he views subsequent developments as a political argument, according to local media.

Legal challenge background

The court ruling followed lawsuits filed by CHP delegates and former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savas, who challenged the legitimacy of the November 2023 gathering over allegations of vote buying, political favors offered to delegates, and procedural violations. The court deemed the congress legally invalid under the principle of "absolute nullity" — a doctrine in Turkish law for acts considered fundamentally unlawful — and ordered the pre-congress administration reinstated on an interim basis.

The decision automatically restored Kılıçdaroğlu's administration to oversee preparations for a new congress and leadership election, effectively reopening a leadership battle that has divided Türkiye's main opposition party. CHP officials have repeatedly rejected the allegations of irregularities and submitted legal defenses during the proceedings.

Prosecutor probe continues

Separately, Ankara prosecutors launched an investigation in 2024 into allegations of vote rigging linked to the congress process, examining claims that violations compromised the integrity of the leadership vote. The plaintiffs had requested the cancellation of the results, arguing that the alleged irregularities damaged the party's internal democracy.

The legal challenges mark a major development for the CHP, which had been led by Özel since he unseated Kılıçdaroğlu in the contested internal contest. The court's ruling has triggered a fierce struggle between rival factions inside the party, with both camps trading accusations over the legitimacy of the leadership change.