13.06.2026 21:40
As the leadership crisis in the CHP continues following the court's 'absolute nullity' decision, Muharrem İnce has presented a striking solution proposal for his party. İnce argued that the only way for the CHP to emerge from chaos is for the general chairperson to be elected through the direct participation of all members, not just delegates.
While the leadership crisis continues in the CHP following the 'absolute nullity' decision from the court, Muharrem İnce made a striking assessment regarding the controversies.
"THE CHP CAN ONLY OVERCOME THIS CHAOS WITH ONE METHOD"
İnce argued that the CHP can only overcome the chaos with one method, stating that the party leader should be elected not by convention delegates but by party members. In his statement on social media, İnce said, "The CHP can only overcome this chaos with one method. The party leader should be elected not by convention delegates but by members."
THE 'ABSOLUTE NULLITY' PROCESS IN THE CHP
The judicial process regarding the 38th Ordinary Convention of the CHP, held on November 4-5, 2023, where Özgür Özel was elected as party leader, began shortly after the convention with allegations of "vote buying."
Upon the application made by E.Ç. on November 19, 2023, the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a lack of jurisdiction decision and sent the file to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on December 22, 2023. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also launched an investigation in January 2024 regarding the crime of "fraud in voting" regulated under Article 112 of Law No. 2820 on Political Parties.
Former Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Lütfü Savaş and some former convention delegates filed separate lawsuits in civil courts of first instance, claiming that the delegate's will was "corrupted by money, benefits, and promises of positions" at the convention, requesting the annulment of the 38th Ordinary Convention and the suspension of the party bodies elected at the convention. These annulment cases were consolidated under the file at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance on February 14, 2025; the court held the first hearing on April 17, 2025.
In the criminal phase of the process, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office completed the investigation on June 3, 2025, and prepared an indictment. In the indictment, former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was identified as the "victim" and Lütfü Savaş as the "complainant"; prison sentences ranging from 1 to 3 years were requested for 12 individuals, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, Cemil Tugay, and Özgür Çelik, on charges of "fraud in voting."
In the civil case, the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance took into account both developments in the criminal file and the subsequent conventions held by the CHP during the trial. The fact that the CHP held its 21st Extraordinary Convention on April 6, 2025, and its 22nd Extraordinary Convention on September 21, 2025, along with the extraordinary provincial congress process in Istanbul, was decisive in the court's assessment of "legal interest."
On October 24, 2025, the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance ruled that there was no need to decide on the merits regarding the lawsuit filed for the annulment of the 38th Ordinary Convention, as the case had become "moot." The court also dismissed the consolidated cases, including the annulment of the CHP's 21st Extraordinary Convention, on the grounds of "lack of standing." In the 22-page reasoned decision announced on November 10, 2025, it was stated that party bodies were re-elected in new conventions and congresses, and these elections were approved by district election boards, and legal interest no longer existed regarding the former conventions sought to be annulled.
The decision was later appealed. The 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice, examining the file, ruled for the provisional suspension of Özel and the party administration, and for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his administration to take over the office.