Suspension of CHP Congress Members: Cautionary Action Taken by Justice Minister
In a dramatic turn of events, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Istanbul finds itself embroiled in a high-stakes trial, popularly known as the "shady congress case." The trial, centred around allegations of rigging the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress held in November 2023, has taken an unexpected turn with the suspension of the Istanbul provincial congress.
The 45th Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance issued the suspension following allegations of irregularities, personal gain, and attempts to influence voters' will at the CHP's 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress. The court's ruling temporarily removes the elected provincial chair, executive board members, and disciplinary board members from duty, assigning a temporary committee to exercise their powers.
The trial, which is ongoing, has seen prosecutors accuse CHP's main figure, Oğuzur Özel, of buying delegate support to oust longtime leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. If the court annuls the congress, Özel's leadership could be declared void. The lawsuit against Özel may result in his removal from the leadership position.
The district congress delegate elections, which began on Aug. 13 and will be followed by district congresses between Sept. 13 and Oct. 5, and provincial congresses from Oct. 11 to Nov. 5, are continuing despite the ongoing trial. However, party insiders say all eyes are on the Sept. 15 hearing in the "shady congress case."
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated that the interim decision by the court is a precautionary measure to prevent irreparable harm during the judicial process. The court ruling halted district and provincial congress elections carried out by the Istanbul provincial organization as part of the CHP's 39th Ordinary Congress calendar.
The court has clarified that appeals can be filed under Articles 394 and 391 of the Code of Civil Procedure. If appeals are successful, the temporary suspension could be lifted, or the congress could be annulled, leading to a new vote and potentially a change in leadership.
The trial also involves 12 suspects, including Istanbul's ousted Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The information regarding the plaintiff in this sensitive trial is not publicly available in the search results. Alleged bribes in the case range from cash, houses, to coveted municipal jobs.
The interim decision by the court does not constitute a final ruling. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for the CHP and the political landscape of Istanbul. The public will be closely watching the developments in this high-stakes trial.
