Turkish riot police intervened Sunday at the headquarters of Turkey's main opposition party, using tear gas and forcing open the building's doors to expel the recently ousted leaders of the Republican People's Party (CHP), according to a Reuters witness.
Security forces entered the CHP headquarters in Ankara after a court ruling overturned the results of the party's 2023 congress, in which Ozgur Ozel was elected leader of the opposition party.
Turkish courts cited irregularities in the conduct of the congress to justify this decision, a move that has sent further political shockwaves through the country. The CHP, the main opposition party to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, denounced it as a political maneuver aimed at weakening its leadership.
Heavily equipped riot police were deployed around the party headquarters as tensions erupted between activists and law enforcement. Images broadcast by local media showed officers using tear gas to disperse people gathered outside the building.
This intervention comes amid a particularly tense political climate in Türkiye, where the opposition regularly accuses the government of using judicial institutions to put pressure on its political opponents.
The CHP plays a central role in Turkish political life and represents the main alternative to the ruling party. Any internal or legal crisis affecting its leadership is therefore closely monitored by political observers and Ankara's international partners.
Turkish authorities did not immediately provide any information regarding possible injuries or arrests following the police operation.
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