24.10.2025 10:20
The new hearing of the lawsuit filed for the annulment of the CHP's 38th Ordinary and 21st Extraordinary Congresses is being held today. While all eyes are on the decision that will come from the case, the CHP Central Executive Board, which convened before the hearing, has set a date for the ordinary congress.
The new hearing of the case filed for the annulment of the 38th Ordinary Congress and the 21st Extraordinary Congress of the Republican People's Party is being held today in Ankara.
THE HEARING STARTED AT 10:00 AM
The fifth hearing, which will be held at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance, started at 10:00 AM. The previous hearing of the case was held on September 15.
The court panel rejected the request for a precautionary measure from the plaintiff's attorney and requested the list of names of the delegates who voted in both congresses in question. The file containing these names has been added to the case file.
WHAT DECISIONS CAN BE MADE IN THE CASE?
In today's hearing, if the case is concluded, three different possibilities are being discussed.
These 3 possibilities are as follows:
- The court may reject the requests for the annulment of the congresses.
- A trustee or a call committee may be appointed as a precaution.
- The congresses may be annulled with absolute nullity.
CONGRESS DECISION BEFORE THE HEARING
Before the case to be heard today, a last-minute decision was made yesterday by the Party Assembly (PM) of the CHP. The CHP PM decided to convene the 39th ordinary congress. The congress will be held on November 28-30.
HOW DID WE GET TO TODAY?
The background of the case dates back to the 38th Ordinary Congress held on November 4-5, 2023, and the 21st Extraordinary Congress held on April 6, 2025. It was claimed by the former Mayor of Hatay, Lütfü Savaş, and some delegates that irregularities occurred in the 38th Ordinary Congress; it was alleged that the votes of the delegates were bought in exchange for bribes, leading to lawsuits being filed in different courts. These cases were consolidated at the 42nd Civil Court of First Instance.
PLAINTIFFS' REQUEST FOR "KILIÇDAROĞLU TO RETURN"
The plaintiffs argue that bribery and fraud were involved in the voting, claiming that the will of the delegates was compromised. The plaintiffs, who want the congress to be considered null and void (absolute nullity), assert that the former chairman, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, should be reinstated. The same plaintiffs also claim that the 21st Extraordinary Congress held on April 6, 2025, should be annulled.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WERE REJECTED
The first hearing at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance was held on May 26. The precautionary measure request from the defendants was rejected in the first hearing, and the hearing was postponed to June 30. Shortly before the hearing on June 30, an indictment was completed regarding the allegation that "money was given to CHP delegates in exchange for votes" against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and 11 others, who were arrested.
OBJECTION TO "LACK OF JURISDICTION" DECISION
A decision of lack of jurisdiction was made on the file sent to the Ankara 26th Criminal Court of First Instance. The file was sent to the Ankara 3rd Heavy Criminal Court. While the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the decision of lack of jurisdiction, the case filed for the annulment of the 38th Ordinary Congress was also postponed to September 8 to await the outcome of this appeal. The date for the same case was later moved to September 15.
REJECTION OF REQUESTS AND POSTPONEMENT OF THE CASE ON SEPTEMBER 15
When September 15 arrived, the eyes were once again turned to the 42nd Civil Court of First Instance in Ankara. The plaintiffs' attorneys made another request for a precautionary measure in this hearing, but the court panel rejected this request. The court also requested that the names of the delegates who voted in both congresses in question be prepared by the next hearing.