10.07.2026 20:20
The court ruled to continue the interim precautionary measure in the case regarding the suspension of the provincial president and provincial administrative board elected at the 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress of the CHP and the annulment of the decisions taken at the congress. With the interim decision, Gürsel Tekin returned to his trusteeship role in the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency.
The fifth hearing of the lawsuit filed for the provisional suspension of Özgür Çelik and his administration, elected at the 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress of the CHP, and for the annulment of the decisions taken at the congress, was held at the Istanbul 45th Civil Court of First Instance.
At the hearing, Attorney Merve Yaren Hançerkıran represented the CHP General Chairmanship, and Attorney Çağdaş Karaküçük represented Özgür Çelik. It was noteworthy that attorneys Çağlar Çağlayan and Mehmetcan Keysan, who attended the previous session on behalf of both the CHP General Chairmanship and Özgür Çelik, were not present at today's hearing, as they were dismissed after Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu assumed the CHP General Chairmanship by court order.
"HEADQUARTERS CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT"
CHP General Chairmanship representative Merve Yaren Hançerkıran requested time to respond to the responses to the letters rogatory submitted to the case file. Hançerkıran, who requested to await the outcome of the appeal review of the main case in Ankara at the Court of Cassation, stated that they had withdrawn their earlier objections regarding consolidation and lack of jurisdiction.
Hançerkıran said, "If the court deems it appropriate, the precautionary measure can be lifted. In that case, the Headquarters will make an appointment to the Istanbul Provincial Administration."
"THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AFFECTS THE MERITS"
Özgür Çelik's representative Çağdaş Karaküçük stated that the outcome of the ongoing criminal proceedings regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress should be awaited, saying, "The possibility of my client's acquittal in these proceedings will also affect the debates regarding whether the alleged act occurred in this case."
Karaküçük argued that the Headquarters' authority to appoint is not determinative for the case, stating, "Following the decisions of the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance and the Ankara Regional Court of Appeal 36th Civil Chamber, there is no change in the current legal situation. The Headquarters' authority to appoint existed previously as well. Despite this, the court did not lift the precautionary measure. The precautionary measure granted before the case is concluded is of a nature that will affect the merits. We request the lifting of the precautionary measure."
CASE ADJOURNED, GÜRSEL TEKIN REMAINS IN OFFICE
Announcing its interim decision, the court granted the parties a two-week period to submit detailed statements regarding the lifting or modification of the precautionary measure.
The court also decided to await the return of the decision of the Ankara Regional Court of Appeal 36th Civil Chamber from the Court of Cassation and to inquire about the status of the criminal case file at the Istanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
The court ruled for the continuation of the precautionary measure, deciding that Gürsel Tekin and his administration should continue their duties, and adjourned the hearing to October 16 at 11:00.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the lawsuit filed for the annulment of the 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress of the CHP, it was decided that the provincial chairperson and provincial bodies serving before the congress should continue their duties due to the annulment of the congress. With this decision, Gürsel Tekin's trusteeship ended, and Gülsüm Hale Özcömert Coşkun was appointed as the Istanbul Provincial Chairperson. Coşkun had been temporarily appointed to the position after former Provincial Chairperson Canan Kaftancıoğlu received a political ban.