Rival leaders of Turkey’s main opposition party call competing meetings

Tuesday 09 June 2026 - 11:30

A deepening political dispute has emerged within Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), as two rival figures claim leadership and announce separate meetings with party lawmakers on the same day.

The crisis involves party leader Özgür Özel, who was elected in the party’s 2023 congress, and former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, whose position was controversially reinstated following a court decision.

A Turkish court recently annulled the 2023 CHP congress, citing alleged irregularities, and reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu as party head. The decision has triggered internal division and political uncertainty within the opposition, with critics arguing that the ruling reflects increasing judicial involvement in party politics.

Both leaders have now called competing meetings with CHP lawmakers in Ankara, each seeking to assert authority over the party’s parliamentary group. Supporters of Özel gathered in parliament ahead of his scheduled address, while Kılıçdaroğlu announced a separate gathering at party headquarters, calling on members and supporters to join him.

The dispute comes at a politically sensitive moment in Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to dominate national politics. Analysts suggest that the opposition’s internal conflict could weaken its electoral position ahead of future elections, potentially strengthening the ruling party’s prospects.

The CHP has faced increasing legal and institutional pressure since 2024, with observers warning that the ongoing leadership struggle may further deepen divisions within the country’s main opposition force.