By Mert Ozkan
ANKARA, May 24 (Reuters) – Turkish riot police fired tear gas and forced their way into the main opposition party’s headquarters to evict its ousted leadership on Sunday, deepening a crisis at the heart of Turkey’s democracy.
Clouds of tear gas billowed within the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building while those inside shouted and threw objects at the entrance as police broke through a makeshift barricade. It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the unrest.
A Turkish court had ousted CHP leader Ozgur Ozel on Thursday, annulling the results of the CHP congress where he was elected in 2023, citing irregularities. On Sunday, Ankara’s governor ordered the eviction of those inside the headquarters.
The court reinstated in Ozel’s place former CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who lost to President Tayyip Erdogan in a national election that year.
Analysts have said they view Thursday’s court ruling as a test of the balance between democracy and autocracy for NATO member Turkey and that it could prolong Erdogan’s 23-year rule.
“We are under attack,” Ozel said in a video message shared on X as the police intervention was taking place, vowing to stay in the building and resist.
“Even if they try to remove us from here, we will continue our march to power in the streets,” he said, appealing to CHP supporters to show solidarity and defend party offices.
OUSTED LEADERS CALL RULING A ‘JUDICIAL COUP’
The ousted CHP leadership under Ozel has condemned the court ruling as a “judicial coup” and Ozel had promised to fight it through legal appeals and to remain “day and night” at the Ankara headquarters.
Ozel called on Saturday for a new party congress to be held as soon as possible while Kilicdaroglu has said that a congress would be held at an “appropriate” time. CHP lawmakers on Saturday elected Ozel as leader of the party’s parliamentary group.
The next national election is set for 2028 but would need to be brought forward if Erdogan, at age 72 and facing a term limit, wants to run again. The court ruling raises the chances of an early vote, analysts said.
The government, meanwhile, denies criticism that it uses courts to target political rivals, saying the judiciary is independent.
State media said on Saturday that Turkish police had detained 13 people under an investigation into the 2023 congress. They face charges of violating the law on political parties, accepting bribes and laundering assets derived from crime.
(Reporting by Mert OzkanAdditional reporting by Daren Butler and Ece ToksabayEditing by David Goodman)
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