21.05.2026 18:30
The 38th Ordinary Congress and the 21st Extraordinary Congress of the CHP were annulled with a "void ab initio" decision by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice. With this decision, it was stated that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would return to the chairmanship, while the CHP Central Executive Board convened urgently. Following the decision, Saadet Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Yılmaz stated, "As soon as the void ab initio decision is issued, it means Turkey will head to a snap election within 45 days."
In the case filed for the annulment of CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention and 21st Extraordinary Convention, the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Appeal ruled 'absolute nullity' for both conventions. According to the decision, former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu returns to the chairmanship. Following the absolute nullity decision, the CHP Central Executive Board convened an emergency meeting.
"TURKEY WILL GO TO A SNAP ELECTION WITHIN 45 DAYS"
After this decision, a highly discussed statement came from Saadet Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Yılmaz. Yılmaz said, 'As soon as the absolute nullity decision was issued, it means Turkey will go to a snap election within 45 days.'
CHP CENTRAL EXECUTIVE BOARD HELD EMERGENCY MEETING
Following the absolute nullity decision, the CHP Central Executive Board held an emergency meeting.
REASONS FOR THE NULLITY DECISION
1- It was concluded that the will of the delegates was corrupted.
By evaluating together the criminal investigations, indictments, witness statements, MASAK report, institutional correspondence, and official reports in the file, it was determined that some delegates' voting preferences were influenced by interest relationships.
2- Promises of money, jobs, candidacy, and other benefits were deemed decisive.
The decision was based on findings that some delegates were given money, promised job placements in municipalities, offered candidacy/political positions, and provided benefits such as shopping cards during the convention and the Istanbul Provincial Congress.
3- It was assessed that votes were monitored and secret will was compromised.
Requests from some delegates to take photos of their ballot papers and send them were considered a significant factor indicating that the electoral will was not freely formed.
4- It was accepted that the principles of intra-party democracy and equality were violated.
It was emphasized that, in accordance with Article 69 of the Constitution and Articles 4 and 93 of the Political Parties Law, the organ elections of political parties must comply with democratic principles, the party by-laws, and the principle of equality among members.
5- It was concluded that there was a violation of the mandatory provisions of the law.
The decision stated that the alleged irregularities in the convention and congress were not just simple grounds for annulment but constituted a violation of public order and mandatory legal rules, leading to a determination of absolute nullity.
6- It was accepted that subsequent extraordinary congresses did not remedy the defect.
Since the November 4-5, 2023 Convention was deemed void due to absolute nullity, it was concluded that the ordinary and extraordinary conventions held after this convention also lost their legal basis.
7- The first instance court's approach that 'the case became moot' was found to be unfounded.
According to the appellate decision, the later conventions did not eliminate the absolute nullity of the earlier convention; therefore, the legal interest was deemed to continue.
8- The outcome was linked to returning to the previous administration.
Since the convention was annulled from the date it was held, it was decided to return to the situation before November 4-5, 2023, with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the party bodies of that period continuing their duties.