Turkish police storm opposition headquarters

TT

Published 14.31

 

Supporters of Turkey's main opposition party CHP gathered outside the party headquarters in Ankara over the weekend in support of party leader Özgür Özel. Photo: Yavuz Ozden /AP/TT

Turkish police have stormed the opposition CHP headquarters in Ankara, using tear gas and rubber bullets against supporters gathered outside.

The operation ended a several-hour confrontation between members of the opposition CHP party and their new court-appointed leadership.

A court had previously annulled the 2023 congress that elected Özgur Özel as party leader, and reinstated former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. However, most within the party support Özel, who has remained at the party headquarters together with the leadership since Thursday.

The party has been the subject of several lawsuits and arrests, and legal proceedings are ongoing against several CHP politicians. Among them is the imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as Erdogan's main rival.

Critics say the legal proceedings are aimed at weakening the CHP ahead of the 2028 elections.