At least 50,000 demonstrators rallied in Turkey’s capital Ankara on Sunday in support of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the country’s main opposition force. The protest came ahead of a critical court hearing that could annul the party’s 2023 leadership election.
Atatürk Symbols and Turkish Flags
Participants, many wearing shirts bearing the image of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, waved Turkish flags in a massive show of support for the opposition.
CHP Deputy Chairman Murat Bakan confirmed the turnout, saying, “There are 50,000 participants in today’s demonstrations.”
CHP Leader Speaks of a “Coup Attempt”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, who was elected in November 2023, addressed the crowd, describing the legal challenge as an attempted “coup” against CHP.
“This government does not want democracy. It knows it cannot win elections if democracy exists. It does not want justice because if justice is served, it will not be able to hide its crimes,” Özel declared.
Court Case Against CHP Leadership
On Monday, a court in Ankara will review allegations of electoral fraud during the 2023 CHP congress, which resulted in Özel’s election as party leader.
Critics argue the case is politically motivated and designed to weaken CHP, Turkey’s oldest political party, which scored a historic victory over President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the 2024 local elections. Polls also show CHP continuing to gain momentum nationwide.
