23.05.2026 21:20
Ankara Regional Court of Justice's decision to declare "absolute nullity" regarding the CHP congress, removing Özgür Özel from his position and ordering the administration of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to take over has deeply shaken the party. A major rift emerged in the support declaration for Özgür Özel by CHP metropolitan mayors who urgently convened after the decision. Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın, who was part of Kılıçdaroğlu's former Central Executive Board, stated he would not sign the joint text and left the meeting.
The Ankara Regional Court of Justice's decision of "absolute nullity" regarding the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress has shaken things up within the party. The court ruling, which ordered the interim suspension of current Chairman Özgür Özel and his administration and the transfer of duties to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's administration, has turned the CHP into a virtual warzone. Following the decision, a meeting of CHP metropolitan mayors, convened urgently, experienced a full-blown "declaration crisis." The joint statement prepared in support of Özgür Özel divided the party in two.
EYES ON THE MAYORS
The decision by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice in the lawsuit filed alleging irregularities in the congress ignited a legal and political chaos within the party. After the interim suspension ruling against Özgür Özel's administration, attention turned to the metropolitan mayors, the party's most powerful figures. To preserve the administration's legitimacy, it was decided to urgently issue a support declaration, but this move, contrary to the expected image of unity and solidarity, opened the door to a new crisis.
VOICES RAISED IN THE MEETING: AHMET AKIN UPSET THE TABLE
According to insider information shared by journalist Barış Yarkadaş on tv100, a statement openly supporting Özgür Özel was drafted during the critical meeting attended by metropolitan mayors. However, as the text was opened for signatures, tensions in the room suddenly escalated. Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın, who served as a member of the Central Executive Board (MYK) during Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's term and is known for his closeness to the former administration, strongly opposed the prepared joint statement.
HE SAID "I WON'T SIGN"
It was learned that Ahmet Akın clearly stated he would not sign this hasty support statement prepared after the court decision. Despite efforts by other mayors at the meeting to persuade him, Akın did not back down from his decision, saying "I will not put my signature on this text," and left the meeting and the room.
This move by the Balıkesir Mayor was interpreted as the most concrete indicator of the position taken by figures close to Kılıçdaroğlu regarding the new era in the party and the legal process.