Turkish police stormed the headquarters of the main opposition CHP party in Ankara on Monday. According to FAZ, they used tear gas and rubber bullets to break through barricades. Ousted CHP leader Özgür Özel had barricaded himself inside the party headquarters with lawmakers since his court-ordered removal on Thursday, vowing not to leave the building.
The eviction was ordered by the Ankara governor’s office. The authority said it was enforcing a court ruling that temporarily reinstated former party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as CHP chairman. An Ankara court had invalidated the 2023 party congress at which Özel was elected chairman, citing alleged irregularities, and removed Özel. The court temporarily reinstated Kilicdaroglu in his place.
Observers view the ruling as politically motivated and a severe blow to opponents of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The government, however, stresses the independence of the judiciary. The ruling is not yet final.
Source: www.faz.net
