Turkey court removes leader of opposition as Erdoğan tightens grip

Former main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on the Republican People’s Party (CHP) to “purify itself” in a video message released on May 20, deepening tensions amid an ongoing court case over the party’s 2023 convention.

The 2023 party congress where Ozgur Ozel was elected leader of Turkey's opposition CHP has been declared null and void.

This fuelled a 6% drop in ​Turkey's BIST 100 equity index (.XU100) , opens new tab which triggered a market-wide circuit breaker.

The ruling ordered the opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, to restore a former chairman, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has lost multiple elections during his career, including most recently to Mr. Erdogan in the 2023 presidential race.