Cancellation of the 38th Ordinary Congress of the CHP and the Case for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's Reinstatement

Cancellation of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress and the Case for Kılıçdaroğlu’s Reinstatement is the name of the legal process concluding with the unanimous decision of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice (BAM) 36th Civil Chamber on 21 May 2026. The court ruled that the Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s 38th Ordinary Elective Congress held on 4–5 November 2023 was null and void due to “absolute invalidity” (definitive nullity), and ordered its cancellation effective from the date it was held. According to the Turkish Language Association, the Arabic-origin term “butlan” means “invalidity.” In law, it is one of the types of invalidity in legal proceedings.

The ruling ordered that the former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and party organs continue in their duties as before, while the current party leader Özgür Özel and his administration were temporarily removed from office. This decision was issued with the possibility of appeal to the Court of Cassation within two weeks. Following the ruling, various legal challenges were initiated between 22–23 May 2026.

CHP’s 38th Ordinary Elective Congress was held on 4–5 November 2023; in this congress, Özgür Özel defeated Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the race for party leadership.

Following the congress, former Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Lütfü Savaş and several delegates filed separate lawsuits in different courts demanding the annulment of the congress and the removal of competent bodies. These annulment cases were consolidated into a single file at the Ankara 42nd Primary Civil Court.

In addition to the civil lawsuit, a criminal case was also initiated. The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into allegations of irregularities during the congress; the indictment was accepted on 3 June. The indictment sought prison sentences of one to three years for twelve suspects, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), who was removed from office over corruption allegations, on charges of “fraud in voting.” The indictment named former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as the victim and Lütfü Savaş as the complainant.

CHP’s Istanbul Provincial leadership was removed and replaced with a trustee, leading to the convening of the 21st Extraordinary Congress of CHP on 6 April 2025; Özgür Özel was re-elected as party leader.

Ankara 42nd Primary Civil Court, during its hearing on 24 October 2025, ruled that the main lawsuit seeking annulment of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress had become moot and therefore no ruling was necessary. In its assessment of the consolidated files, the court dismissed the lawsuit filed by Lütfü Savaş on the grounds that he lacked standing to initiate the case.

Ankara Regional Court of Justice (BAM) 36th Civil Chamber reviewed the appeals filed against the consolidated files. The chamber evaluated provisions of the Political Parties Law, the Associations Law, and the Turkish Civil Code to examine the congress procedures. In its ruling, evidence, witness statements, and official documents collected under the files of the Ankara 3rd Primary Civil Court, Ankara 26th Primary Criminal Court, Istanbul 45th Primary Civil Court, and Istanbul 72nd Primary Criminal Court were jointly assessed.

The appeal chamber found the first instance court’s “mootness” assessment to be incompatible with the law. It concluded that subsequent extraordinary congresses and conventions could not rectify the legal violations identified in the original congress. The chamber determined that the congresses had been “corrupted by power dynamics” and were “invalid due to absolute nullity for violating mandatory legal provisions.”

The ruling further stated that extraordinary congresses held after a legally non-existent and invalid congress cannot eliminate prior legal defects, and that the plaintiffs retained their legal interest in continuing the case.

The appeal ruling incorporated findings from the prosecution’s investigation. The findings were summarized as follows:

"Suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu, who served as Mayor of Istanbul and as President of the Chamber of the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress, orchestrated the participation of other suspects in an operation at the Ankara Sports Hall on 4–5 November 2023 during the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress. Some delegates were paid to vote for the party leader candidate Özgür Özel; others were offered candidacy for mayoral and municipal council positions in various provinces and districts; some delegates and their relatives were employed in CHP-run municipalities and their affiliated companies; a number of delegates and their families were given large quantities of supermarket gift cards; these delegates were asked to photograph their ballots and send them via mobile phones; after the first round of voting, delays were deliberately caused to announce false statements that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had withdrawn from the race; through these actions, the delegates’ wills were manipulated to secure the victory of candidate Özgür Özel. It is understood that the suspects acted jointly and committed the crime of electoral fraud, prompting a public prosecution.

The ruling cited Article 2820 of the Political Parties Law, emphasizing that political parties’ internal operations, governance, oversight, and elections for party organs must not violate party bylaws, the principle of equality among members, or democratic principles.

The ruling also recalled that the plaintiff Lütfü Savaş had been referred to the High Disciplinary Board (HDB) on 3 October 2024 by a decision of the CHP Central Executive Committee for “provisional expulsion,” and was definitively expelled from the party by the HDB’s decision on 11 December 2024. Similarly, the other plaintiff Yılmaz Özkanat, also expelled from the party, had legally lost his status as a “party member and delegate” as of the date the lawsuit was filed, and therefore lacked standing to initiate the case. The ruling emphasized that complaints from delegates with proper standing had been duly considered.

Ankara BAM 36th Civil Chamber, in its unanimous decision on 21 May 2026, accepted the appeals against the consolidated files and overturned the ruling of the Ankara 42nd Primary Civil Court. The ruling stated: “Both the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress of 4–5 November 2023 and the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress of 8 October 2023 are found to be invalid due to absolute nullity for violating mandatory legal provisions.”

The chamber ruled that due to the absolute nullity of the original congress, all ordinary and extraordinary congresses and decisions made within the party after that date were also null and void. The CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress of 8 October 2023 and all decisions taken during it were likewise annulled on the same grounds.

The ruling ordered a return to the situation existing before the 38th Ordinary Elective Congress of 4–5 November 2023, requiring Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and party organs to resume their duties as they were prior to the congress date.

The ruling stated: “Due to the absolute nullity of the congress held on 4–5 November 2023, the party leader Özgür Özel, members of the Central Executive Committee, members of the Party Assembly, and members of the High Disciplinary Board are provisionally removed from office. The former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and members of the Party Assembly and High Disciplinary Board who held office before the congress are provisionally reassigned to their duties until the ruling becomes final. A provisional measure order is to be sent to the High Election Board, Ankara Provincial Election Board, Çankaya 4th District Election Board, and Ankara Governorship as required.

Gülsüm Hale Özcömert Coşkun was appointed to lead the CHP Istanbul Provincial Leadership pursuant to the court ruling. The chamber issued its decision unanimously, with the possibility of appeal to the Court of Cassation within two weeks.

Immediately after the announcement of the absolute nullity ruling on 21 May 2026, following the conclusion of the weekly ordinary Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, Özgür Özel convened an extraordinary session of the CEC. In response to party calls, members began gathering in front of and within the central headquarters; soon, the entire street housing the headquarters was filled.

At the headquarters entrance, some members attempted to remove photographs of former party leaders from the upper floor, including the photograph of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Despite attempts to block them, the photograph was removed and torn apart.

At 21:20, the court’s absolute nullity ruling was officially delivered to the CHP Central Headquarters and to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Following the ruling, the CHP Official X account unfollowed Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The extraordinary CEC meeting held after the ruling lasted approximately five hours.

CHP Central Headquarters’s developments prompted a decision to convene an extraordinary meeting. Before the meeting, CHP Member of Parliament Gökhan Günaydın told the press: “It is too early to speak; we will evaluate after the meeting.”

Immediately after the ruling’s announcement, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stated in his first comment: “All party members must accept the ruling calmly. Our party is a very large party. Our party will resolve its own problems internally.”

In a social media post, Kılıçdaroğlu wrote: “The Republican People’s Party is the charter of our nation’s sovereignty. The court’s ruling regarding our 38th Ordinary Congress should not be a cause for division, but an opportunity to unite under our century-old plane tree. This is not a day for shouting at each other in joy, but a day to set aside grievances, act with seriousness and calmness, and rise together. We must manage this process not with ‘bargains,’ but with seriousness, sincerity drawn from our party culture, and collective reason. Personal ambitions are not the foundation; Türkiye’s future is. In this context, we will manage the process in full harmony and cooperation with our previous party leaders, members of the Party Assembly, our members of parliament, and our provincial and district leaders. No one should be concerned; we will emerge from these debates stronger and continue our path to power. I invite everyone to calmness and collective reason. We are together.”

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s lawyer Celal Çelik told reporters outside Kılıçdaroğlu’s home: “Our esteemed party leader, in his assessment aimed at preventing chaos within the CHP, will shortly call Özgür Özel to initiate necessary efforts for our party to jointly overcome this issue. I therefore wish to inform you that Özgür Özel will shortly be contacted by our esteemed party leader.”

CHP Party Leader Özgür Özel, immediately after the absolute nullity ruling, published a video of a previous speech on his social media account. In it, he said: “I do not promise you a path to power through rose gardens. I promise you endurance through pain, but not surrender. I promise you honor, dignity, courage, and struggle!”

After the approximately five-hour CEC meeting, Özel stated that they had no intention of considering a second party option: “We are the hosts here; tenants leave, owners stay. In the family hearth, only the true owners decide who sits.”

“A second party, a backup party option, may be on the agenda of all political parties in Türkiye, but it is a precaution against a closure case. We did not consider such a precaution against nullity,” he added.

Özel stated that they had filed their first appeal with the Court of Cassation and would also apply to the HIB. He said they expected the Court of Cassation to urgently review the appeal regarding the provisional measure.

Addressing the crowd in front of the party headquarters, Özel said: “From this moment until the danger is eliminated and until the CHP members, not the judicial arms of the AK Party, decide who will lead the party, I will remain here, in my office, and will not go anywhere.” Calling for public demonstrations, Özel added: “If necessary, we will stop our lives; if necessary, we will use the power we draw from consumption, but we will not surrender.”

Özel also stated that Kılıçdaroğlu had called him by phone but he had not yet returned the call. Özel emphasized that he would not accept any compromise based on the nullity ruling: “I refuse to imagine even hypothetically that Kılıçdaroğlu, who was previously elected with honor and dignity to the CHP leadership, would now return to that seat through the hand of the AK Party judiciary. But certain statements and approaches suggest this.”

CHP Deputy Party Leader Burhanettin Bulut stated that they did not recognize the ruling. In a post on X, he wrote: “The owner of the CHP is not palaces, dirty deals behind closed doors, or bureaucratic games. The owner of the CHP is the organization, the delegate, the people.” He added: “The party leader of the CHP is Özgür Özel and this reality is not open to debate.”

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek made the following statements regarding the ruling: “At the heart of this ruling lies the direct protection of democratic will. Regardless of the party involved, it is unacceptable for a delegate’s or member’s will to be compromised by interest, pressure, or manipulation. It must be emphasized that this process began with the petitions of CHP delegates themselves and was shaped by the testimonies and declarations of CHP delegates. Judicial authorities carefully examined the allegations, investigation files, witness statements, and evidence collected and rendered their decision independently and impartially.”

Gürlek added: “Of course, this ruling is subject to appeal. The process will continue within the legal order. It is of great importance that everyone respects this process and conducts their evaluations within the legal framework, and makes their objections within the legal system. Our fundamental principle is clear: the will belongs to the nation, to the delegate, to the members. The rule of law stands firm against any element casting a shadow on this will.”

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş stated on his social media account: “The absolute nullity ruling concerning the Republican People’s Party is one of the clearest indications of how severely law, democracy, and the will of the nation are being suppressed in Türkiye. Moreover, one of the most striking and alarming points here is that the court has effectively concluded that ‘fraud occurred in the election’ before the criminal cases have been concluded; this amounts to the civil court replacing the criminal court. In a rule of law state, no individual or institution can substitute itself for an unresolved judicial process.”

Yavaş added: “Of course, there is a judicial ruling, and no ruling is disregarded in a rule of law state. However, legal processes cannot be turned into tools to weaken, divide, or eliminate political parties.” He added: “What must be done is not to escalate tensions, but to act with reason and announce that the party will hold a congress within one or two months and manage the process within democratic norms.”

DEM Party stated: “The absolute nullity ruling against the CHP is part of a political pressure operation and mindset aiming to design politics through the judiciary, incompatible with law and justice. As DEM Party, as we have always been, we stand with democracy and the rule of law. Our fundamental and principled doctrine for decades has been to stand with the people’s will against attacks on democratic politics.” The statement also called for an immediate end to unlawful practices.

A statement was issued on the social media account of the removed Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu stated: “We are determined to resist together against political coups carried out by the Erdoğan mindset through the judiciary.” He assessed the absolute nullity ruling as “a coup against Türkiye, democracy, and the Republic” and “an attempt to destroy the constitutional order.” He added: “The matter is serious. Parties are above all. It is time for the nation to claim Türkiye.”

MHP Party Leader Devlet Bahçeli called on Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel to find a common path based on the interests of the CHP.

CHP İzmir Member of Parliament Mahir Polat said outside Kılıçdaroğlu’s residence: “We will continue our path to power by embracing each other, without enmity within the party. One thing everyone must know: the Republican People’s Party will become a party that generates politics and addresses the problems of Türkiye and the region. May the outcome be beneficial for our party. I want to say that we will emerge stronger from this process together.”

CHP Aydın Member of Parliament Hüseyin Yıldız said: “The Republican People’s Party has existed for 103 years and will continue to exist. In the coming period, under our party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, our members of the Party Assembly, our provincial and district organizations, and our parliamentary group will unite under one goal: to reach power.”

The Arabic-origin term “butlan” means invalidity. In law, it is defined as one of the types of invalidity in legal proceedings. Absolute nullity refers to a legal act being considered void ab initio due to violation of mandatory legal provisions.

Enforcement officers delivered the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber’s provisional measure order in the CHP congress case to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who had been reinstated to the position of CHP Party Leader. It was decided that the officers would also deliver the ruling to the CHP Central Headquarters.

Plaintiff’s lawyer Onur Yusuf Üregen told reporters after the notification: “This ruling once again demonstrates how right we were in this case. What follows is about our party’s internal functioning and internal politics. A new process has now begun. I wish our party leader, Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, well and am confident he will bring the party together.” Üregen added: “Yes, at this moment, our party leader is Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.”

CHP filed an objection to the chamber that issued the ruling regarding the provisional measure. The chamber rejected the objection. The ruling stated that the decision on the main case justified the provisional measure, that no legal mechanism exists for objecting to a provisional measure, and that all provisional measures and decisions become final at the appeal stage.

The ruling stated: “Since our chamber’s provisional measure decision is deemed final, it was necessary to reject the defendant’s counsel’s request for objection.” The ruling referenced Articles 394 and 362 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which address objections to provisional measures and non-appealable decisions respectively. It noted that no legal mechanism exists for objecting to provisional measures issued by appeal courts and that the issued decision is final. It also referenced provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure stating that the implementation of provisional measures does not suspend the objection process. This decision was adopted unanimously and definitively on 22 May 2026.

Ankara Regional Court of Justice’s ruling removed Özgür Özel from the position of CHP Party Leader. In a speech at the party headquarters the previous day, he announced that they had filed their first legal objection with the Court of Cassation and would also apply to the HIB.

Following the absolute nullity ruling, the party leadership held successive meetings to assess the political and legal roadmap. Özgür Özel met with CHP metropolitan mayors on 22 May 2026 after convening the CEC meeting.

High Election Board (HIB) President Serdar Mutta made statements after a preparatory agenda meeting with board members. Mutta noted that various applications had been submitted to the HIB by Mehmet Hadimi Yakupoğlu and CHP’s lawyer Kadri Gökhan Sultan following the ruling by the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber.

HIB President Mutta stated regarding the petition submitted to the board on 22 May by CHP High Election Board Representative Mehmet Hadimi Yakupoğlu: “In summary, the petition claims that due to the impossibility, both materially and legally, of implementing the provisional measure order issued by the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber, the 22 September 2025 21st Extraordinary Congress, the 24 September 2025 Istanbul Extraordinary Provincial Congress, the 19 October 2025 Istanbul 39th Extraordinary Provincial Congress, and the 28–30 November 2025 CHP 39th Ordinary Congress elections, as well as the delegates elected at the 4–5 November 2023 Ordinary Congress, have lost their delegate status under the Political Parties Law, and therefore the congresses and congresses held by new delegates have valid ballots, and those elected in congresses and conventions continue in office, and the High Election Board should determine this based on Article 79 of the Constitution. The request was rejected.”

HIB President Mutta stated that regarding the petition submitted by CHP’s lawyer Sultan, which requested that the petitions submitted by Yakupoğlu, whose appointment as CHP HIB representative was terminated by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu after his provisional appointment to the CHP Party Leader position, be disregarded, no decision was made. Mutta also stated that a letter sent by the appeal court to the HIB was returned without action.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s Press Advisor Atakan Sönmez made statements to reporters outside Kılıçdaroğlu’s residence and answered questions.

Sönmez refuted claims made by İYİ Party Leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu in a statement that “Kılıçdaroğlu will first visit President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Party Leader Devlet Bahçeli and that this is significant.” He emphasized that Kılıçdaroğlu has no meeting schedule or initiative with any party leader or politician, nor has any such request been made by the other side.

Sönmez recounted the phone call between Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel as follows: “We said that during the day, there were mutual calls, but neither side was available at the time. Just now, the call took place. When Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called again, he could not reach Mr. Özgür Özel. Özgür Özel returned the call. A conversation took place between Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Mr. Özgür Özel. In the conversation, Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu conveyed his intention to bring the party to a congress at the earliest appropriate time. Özgür Özel also stated that his own demands align with this and that he is pleased. He said he would discuss this with his colleagues and then respond to Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu.”

Sönmez responded to the question “What do you mean by ‘earliest’?” with: “We did not say ‘earliest.’ We said ‘most appropriate.’ We did not set a timetable.” When asked whether a face-to-face meeting was proposed, he replied: “There was no such intention in the content of this conversation.”

Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that, as part of the investigation into allegations of interference with delegates’ voting will during the CHP 38th Ordinary Congress, thirteen suspects were arrested in seven provinces.

The prosecutor’s office stated: “As a result of investigations by the Istanbul Provincial Police Directorate’s Anti-Corruption Unit, thirteen suspects suspected of violating the Political Parties Law, accepting bribes, and laundering assets derived from crime have been arrested. Searches and seizures were conducted at addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, and Malatya.

The names of the suspects arrested are: Gülhan Aydın, Sadi Karayalçın, Melda Tanışman Tutan, Hayati Kaya, Suat Dülger, Kalender Özdemir, Özkan Deniz, İbrahim Şahin, Umut Sapan, Mehmet Ayıp Demirbüken, Metin Kaya, Gaffar Çiçek, and Ayça Akpek Şenay. Their procedures at the police station are ongoing.

It was reported that Özgür Özel, provisionally removed from the position of CHP Party Leader by the court ruling, held a meeting with CHP Party Assembly members who had also been removed from office. The meeting, held at the CHP Central Headquarters, lasted approximately six hours.

According to party sources, it was expected that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, reinstated to the position of CHP Party Leader by the court ruling, would announce his decision regarding the congress process by the end of the Kurban Bayram holiday. If no decision were made during this period, it was reported that signatures would be collected from delegates to initiate an extraordinary congress on the first Monday after the holiday.

According to the CHP bylaws, an extraordinary congress can be initiated by direct call from the party leader, by decision of the Party Assembly, or by notarized signatures from one-fifth of the congress members. The extraordinary congress must be held no later than 45 days after being announced to relevant parties at least 15 days in advance.

It was announced that the Ankara Governorship had issued instructions to the Ankara Police Directorate to evacuate the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Central Headquarters in accordance with the court ruling. The governorship’s statement noted that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s lawyer, Celal Çelik, had filed a petition with the police.

The statement indicated that in his petition, Celal Çelik stated that the court ruling had not been implemented and requested that necessary procedures be carried out to hand over the CHP Central Headquarters building to the authorized persons. In response, the Ankara Governorship issued instructions to the Ankara Police Directorate to enforce the court ruling.

It was reported that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, reinstated to the position of CHP Party Leader by the court ruling, made a statement regarding the tensions at the CHP Central Headquarters. The statement was shared on social media by his press advisor, Atakan Sönmez.

In his statement, Kılıçdaroğlu said: “I request all judicial officers, police personnel, and all public officials acting to implement the decision of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 36th Civil Chamber regarding the CHP’s entire organization to comply with the ruling.” He added: “I also request that no action or behavior contrary to our organizational culture and discipline be taken. Necessary measures will be taken against those who act contrary to the order.”

It was reported that police units entered the party building to deliver the Ankara Regional Court of Justice’s ruling regarding the CHP congress case and to ensure the evacuation of the CHP Central Headquarters.

Some party members attempted to block the police advance by barricading doors with chairs inside the CHP Central Headquarters. It was reported that security measures were heightened during the commotion in the party building.

It was reported that after the evacuation of the CHP Central Headquarters, Özgür Özel, provisionally removed from the position of CHP Party Leader by the court ruling, marched to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) with accompanying members of parliament and party members. The march, escorted by security forces, took place along Dumlupınar Boulevard, with slogans shouted under heavy rain and party members in the surrounding area supporting the march.

It was reported that Özel climbed onto a TOMA vehicle in front of the TBMM and joined the party members’ slogans. It was stated that Özel declared during his statements to journalists that they had “resisted until their last breath” at the CHP Central Headquarters.

In his statement, Özgür Özel said: “From now on, the real headquarters of the Republican People’s Party is the group office, the group halls, and our office in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.” He also argued that the party cannot be represented by a single building, stating that the party grew through struggle and that the future process would be carried out “in the streets and on the ground.”

Addressing the crowd in Milli Egemenlik Park at the Çankaya gate of the TBMM, Özel claimed that an “operation” had been carried out against the CHP. In his statement, he accused security forces of “occupying” the party headquarters and described the entire process as a “third coup attempt against the CHP.”

In his speech, Özel referenced the founding process of the CHP and past periods of party closure, declaring that he would fight for the party’s “third reopening.” He stated: “I will work with all my strength to open the Republican People’s Party for the third time and I will ultimately bring that ballot box.”

After his speech, it was reported that Özgür Özel entered the TBMM.

It was reported that CHP Party Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would hold his first Party Assembly (PA) meeting following the appeal court’s ruling on the CHP congress on 1 June. According to party sources, the meeting was planned for Monday, 1 June, at 11:00.

It was reported that at the meeting, members of the Party Assembly would select members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), and Kılıçdaroğlu would assign roles within his working team. On the same day at 15:00, the CHP High Disciplinary Board (HDB) was scheduled to convene. It was expected that internal party disciplinary processes and various expulsion requests would be addressed at the HDB meeting.

It was reported that the original and alternate members of the PA and HDB determined by the CHP’s 37th Ordinary Congress held on 25–26 July 2020 had been reinstated to their positions by the court ruling. However, it was indicated that some individuals previously in Kılıçdaroğlu’s last Party Assembly would not be able to serve in the new PA for various reasons.

It was stated that Onursal Adıgüzel, Ahmet Akın, Muharrem Erkek, Hasan Baltacı, and Candan Yüceer would not be able to serve in the Party Assembly due to their positions as mayors. It was also reported that Tekin Bingöl and Gülizar Biçer Karaca could not serve due to their roles as Deputy Speakers of the TBMM, and Ali Mahir Başarır, Gökhan Günaydın, and Murat Emir could not serve due to their roles as Deputy Leaders of the CHP Parliamentary Group.

It was reported that CHP Party Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu published a message on his social media account on the occasion of Kurban Bayram. Kılıçdaroğlu’s message emphasized unity, brotherhood, and collective struggle, and was interpreted as containing indirect references to recent developments within the CHP.

In his message, Kılıçdaroğlu said: “We are a great plane tree whose seeds were sown in the same soil, who rest in the shade of the weary, who face every breeze together, and whose roots are tightly bound. Neither lies nor slander nor walls intended to be erected between us can break this brotherhood.”

Kılıçdaroğlu, referring to holidays as days to “cling tightly to truth” and “reconnect through the unbreakable bridge of brotherhood,” stated that the greatest strength of the party lies in honesty, collective struggle, and shared belief.

Kılıçdaroğlu also expressed the hope that Kurban Bayram would be “a strong symbol of unending brotherhood, growing hope, and collective struggle,” and wished all citizens a happy holiday.

The CHP issued a new statement regarding the previously announced date of the Party Assembly (PA) meeting on 1 June. The statement indicated that the appointment letters for PA members had not yet been officially delivered by the relevant public institutions.

It was stated that the date of the Party Assembly meeting had not yet been finalized and that the meeting date would be determined by CHP Party Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu after the notification process was completed. The party statement included the following: “The PA members have not yet received the official notification regarding their appointments from the relevant public institutions; therefore, the meeting date of the PA cannot be determined. After the completion of the notification process, the meeting date of the PA will be determined by the Party Leader and announced separately.”

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu arrived at the CHP Central Headquarters to participate in the “Public Holiday Gathering” program held after the appeal court’s ruling on the congress. Before leaving his residence in Ankara’s Çukurambar neighborhood, Kılıçdaroğlu greeted party members gathered outside his home and then proceeded to the CHP Central Headquarters in his official vehicle. Upon arrival at the headquarters, he was welcomed by party members, who chanted slogans and placed carnations on his vehicle in support.

_{Kılıçdaroğlu at the Headquarters (30 May 2026, Anadolu Ajansı)}

After entering the headquarters, Kılıçdaroğlu proceeded to his office, where he was scheduled to participate in the “Public Holiday Gathering” program with party members and citizens.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in his speech at the “Public Holiday Gathering” program held at the CHP Central Headquarters, made assessments regarding the congress process, internal party debates, and the future of the CHP. Beginning his speech with emphasis on law, justice, and democracy, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the issue was not merely a matter of party leadership: “This issue is about whether politics in Türkiye will be shaped by morality or money, by law or operations, by the will of the nation or by apparatuses.”

_{CHP Party Leader Kılıçdaroğlu’s Speech at the "Public Holiday Gathering" (30 May, 2026 Anadolu Ajansı)}

Referring to the allegations and judicial processes following the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress, Kılıçdaroğlu argued that damage to internal party democracy would also negatively affect the country’s democracy. In his assessment of the congress process, he said: “If the internal democracy of a political party is compromised, the country’s democracy is also compromised.”

Addressing the debates surrounding the congress, Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized that those responsible must be held accountable and stated:

“Now people ask me, ‘What will you do?’ My course is clear: I will demand accountability, let everyone know this. Then I will bring the ballot box before you as soon as possible. We will hold a clean, immaculate congress. Our party members will mark and build our party’s safe harbor.”

Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized that the outcome of the upcoming congress must be accepted by the party, stating: “Whoever emerges from the ballot box will be the party’s legitimate, legal leader, the crown of our head.”

In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu also addressed certain practices in the party that he had failed to notice in the past, stating:

“For the salvation, justice, and bright future of this nation, I began this sacred march, and I failed to notice the FETÖ agents who silently infiltrated behind us and sold their souls. For this, I apologize to you.”

He also stated:

“When we said ‘homeland, nation,’ I nurtured within me those ignorant individuals who sought salvation from external forces and begged them for permission and aid. For this, I apologize to you.”

He made these assessments regarding individuals and groups he criticized within the party.

Kılıçdaroğlu also addressed corruption and bribery allegations against some CHP-run municipalities, stating:

“I apologize to you, to my organization, and before history for failing to remove and purge those corrupt mayors who eyed the rights of the people in municipal offices and became involved in bribery and plunder.”

Continuing his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu argued for a return to the founding principles of the CHP and emphasized the need to strengthen the party on renewed moral and institutional foundations. The program was carried out as a holiday gathering with participation from party members.

Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized the historical identity of the CHP, stating:

“This party is the party of those who said, ‘Either independence or death,’ against intermediaries. We will purify ourselves, we will cleanse ourselves of bribe-takers and thieves. First, the CHP, then Türkiye will be purified.”

Addressing the debates facing the CHP, Kılıçdaroğlu said regarding the allegations made about the party and the Assembly:

“Those who sit in the family hearth cannot remain silent in the face of allegations of ‘bribe bags’ against our Gazi Assembly and the CHP. How can we walk the path with those who have stained our Gazi Assembly and the CHP? It is not us, it is you who will decide.”

Kılıçdaroğlu argued that the CHP must be strengthened on the basis of moral and institutional principles, stating:

“The CHP is a party that guides the state. The CHP is the party of those who uphold morality, virtue, and service to their country and citizens, and who defend democracy. No CHP member is double-faced.”

Regarding the process to be carried out within the party, he stated:

“Let no one fall into despair. We will tear and cast away this darkness.”

In the continuation of his speech, addressing different social groups, Kılıçdaroğlu said:

“Greetings to the true owners of Türkiye. Greetings to our headscarved sisters who distributed our brochures in elections. Greetings to our building attendants, our paper collectors, our women who are our hope, our retirees, and all workers. A thousand greetings to our struggle for a strengthened parliamentary system. A thousand greetings to our bright future.”

_{Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (30 May, 2026 Anadolu Ajansı)}

In his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu also addressed Türkiye’s foreign policy and security issues, stating:

“In the Eastern Mediterranean, in the north, in the south, in Western Thrace, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and in all territories where we have shed blood and lost martyrs, the interests of our state and our nation are the unshakable and non-negotiable bylaw of our party.”

At the end of his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu affirmed that the CHP would continue on its path, stating: “The CHP stands firm, it will not collapse, it will not disintegrate. We will not allow anyone to trample the will of ten million people. We will not only cleanse the past, we will also build the future.” After the program, Kılıçdaroğlu distributed carnations to citizens and returned to his office at the headquarters.

CHP Parliamentary Group Leader Özgür Özel made assessments regarding the congress debates, party leadership election, and internal party democracy during his speech at the holiday gathering held at Güvenpark in Ankara.

Özel, affirming that the CHP would not abandon its goal of power, stated:

“They want a CHP that walks to power, not a CHP that walks with power.”

Addressing the “absolute nullity” debates within the party, Özel argued that the congress must not be delayed:

“No one who loves this country and has placed hope in changing this power has the right to delay the party’s congress for even a single day. The congress must be held immediately.”

Özel proposed that the party leader be determined directly by the members, calling:

“Before the congress, install ballot boxes in CHP organizations, summon our two million members, and let two million CHP members decide who will be the party leader.”

_{Özgür Özel’s March to Anıtkabir (30 May, 2026 Anadolu Ajansı)}

Özel stated that he would not avoid the leadership race, saying:

“I will compete with every delegate. But announce the congress date.”

He then proposed:

“Whoever emerges from that ballot box, let us proceed to the official congress with that person as the party leader candidate. I am not afraid of the congress, but I demand a preliminary election with all members for genuine energy.”

Özel further stated regarding the possible preliminary election:

“If I receive less than 85 percent of the vote in this preliminary election, I will not seek the position.”

Addressing criticism of CHP mayors in his speech, Özel said:

“Those who have launched smear campaigns against our mayors cannot lead this party.”

Regarding the debates surrounding Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, he stated:

“I declare openly: I am fully aware of every step and statement made by Mayor Mansur until today. From now on, whatever we do, we will do together.”

At the end of his speech, Özel invited party members to march to Anıtkabir, linking the march to the CHP’s political goals:

“This march is the first step of the CHP’s path to power.”

After his speech, Özel marched to Anıtkabir with party members, laid a wreath at the mausoleum, and engaged in various meetings.

Following a meeting with a group of members of parliament and politicians at the TBMM, CHP Istanbul Member of Parliament Zeynel Emre announced that the party’s situation had been evaluated and that signature collection from delegates to initiate an extraordinary congress had begun. Emre stated that all delegates recognized as competent by court rulings would have their signatures collected and that prolonging the process would serve no purpose.

Addressing attempts to link Özel to FETÖ, Emre defended him by stating that he had fought against legal irregularities in the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases, participated in the TBMM during the 15 July coup attempt, and that no candidate or advisor linked to FETÖ had been present during his leadership. Emre stated that these allegations did not reflect the truth.

Emre argued that the congress had become necessary for the CHP, noting that the congresses held since November 2023 had been annulled by court rulings, and that the last valid congress for the party was therefore the July 2020 congress. Emre stated that according to the Political Parties Law and party bylaws, congresses must be held at specified intervals, and that failure to take necessary steps by July 2026 could result in problems regarding the party’s participation in elections.

Emre confirmed that the planned TBMM group meeting would proceed as scheduled and that the CHP parliamentary group and its leadership had been elected in accordance with procedure. He stated that the parliamentary group’s allocated meeting room would be used and that the group meeting would be held.

CHP Parliamentary Group Leader Özgür Özel announced that the signature collection process to initiate an extraordinary congress within the party had begun.

Answering journalists’ questions at the TBMM, Özel stated that the first signature had come from Kayseri and that even a delegate who had not voted for him in previous congresses had signed. He stated that all signatures had been collected in Rize.

_{Özgür Özel (1 June, 2026 Anadolu Ajansı)}

Özel stated that he had not yet signed himself and emphasized that the signatures collected should be viewed not as support for any side but as a commitment to the party’s future. He noted that approximately 550 signatures were needed to convene the congress and stated that the required number could be reached quickly. He noted that the goal was to collect the highest possible number of signatures for the congress application.

Özel stated that a political party that brings the ballot box to the nation within a multi-party democratic process cannot be properly governed without operating its own election and congress mechanisms. He said that this situation harms both the party and the country, and expressed concern that public outrage could turn into broader distrust of political institutions.