Tens of thousands support ousted CHP leader Özel in Ankara

The situation in Turkey's largest opposition party is escalating. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Ankara on Saturday to show their support for Özgür Özel. The 51-year-old was removed from his position as party chairman a week ago by court order – an unprecedented move in Turkish political history.

At the same time, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu entered the CHP headquarters for the first time after the court appointed him as interim chairman. The former presidential candidate and long-time party leader used his appearance to speak before his supporters – in parallel with Özel's speech to the demonstrators outside.

Deep division in the CHP

This moment symbolizes the deep split within the CHP. The party is increasingly divided following the judicial removal of Özel, with two competing leadership figures each mobilizing their own supporters. The demonstrators in Ankara made it clear that they regard Özel as the legitimate leader and reject judicial intervention.

The conflict reveals deep rifts in the party structure. While Kılıçdaroğlu is backed by the judiciary, Özel apparently enjoys considerable grassroots support. The simultaneous rallies show that both camps are prepared to publicly defend their position. For the CHP, which serves as the most important counterweight to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government, this crisis represents a serious challenge – it could weaken the opposition's effectiveness, especially if new elections are approaching.