Turkish police stormed the offices of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Sunday, firing tear gas and rubber bullets at party supporters and officials who had been barricaded inside for three days. The violent confrontation marked the end of a standoff between CHP members loyal to recently elected chair Ozgur Ozel and a rival leadership team appointed by an appeals court.
Details of the Raid
Footage from local media showed clouds of tear gas filling the courtyard and interior of the building as riot police forced their way through the premises. Journalists were removed by police, while supporters initially tried to resist by spraying fire extinguishers but were quickly subdued. Doors, furniture, and ground-floor windows were destroyed in the operation.
Among those inside was Ozgur Ozel, who was elected party chairperson in November 2023 but was removed by the appeals court ruling. As he left the headquarters to cheers and applause from supporters, Ozel told journalists: “We are leaving the building now only to reclaim it in a way no one will be able to interfere again. When we return, neither this administration nor its collaborators will dare do this again.” He and his supporters then began marching toward Parliament, over 5 kilometers away.
Background of the Conflict
Tensions had been rising since Thursday, when an appeals court nullified Ozel's election as CHP chair, suspending him and the party’s executive board. The court ruled that Ozel should be replaced by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, his predecessor who led the party for 13 years but never won a national election. Ozel, in contrast, delivered a decisive blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the 2024 municipal elections.
The opposition claims the court decision was politically motivated to weaken the party as it faces numerous legal cases targeting its members and elected officials. In a video posted on social media during the raid, Ozel said: “We are under attack. Our crime? To make our party Turkey’s number one party after 47 years. Our crime? Defeating the Justice and Development Party.” He vowed to resist until the end and resume the march toward becoming the administration in the public square if forcibly removed.
Political Implications
The next presidential election is not due until 2028, but Erdogan can call for an early vote. His main challenger, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a CHP member, has been imprisoned since March 2025 and is on trial for corruption. Many observers believe the legal cases against the CHP are aimed at neutralizing the party ahead of the next election. The government insists that Turkey’s courts are impartial and independent of political pressure.
The vast majority of the party has rallied behind Ozel. He and most of the party had been inside the CHP headquarters in Ankara since Thursday’s ruling, with the new administration unable to enter. The rival teams were scheduled to meet Sunday afternoon to resolve the impasse, but the raid intervened. Early Sunday, a crowd gathered outside the office, watched by a growing police presence. Kilicdaroglu’s lawyer, Celal Celik, requested police assistance to vacate the building, which the Ankara Governor’s office approved.
Broader Context
The police raid occurred at the start of a nine-day holiday for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, when many people are on vacation and away from major cities. Erdogan has ruled Turkey since 2003, first as prime minister and then as president. His electoral record suffered a setback in 2019 when the CHP seized control of several major cities in local elections, with Imamoglu emerging as a popular and charismatic figure seen as a potential threat to Erdogan’s rule.
