Tensions rise in Ankara: Police raid CHP headquarters! How did the German press interpret the events in Turkey?

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Reyhan KÜÇÜK

The leader of Turkey's largest opposition party, the CHP, has been removed from office by a controversial court ruling. Following this, he barricaded himself inside the party headquarters.

According to Halk TV footage, police entered the building in the capital, Ankara, using tear gas and rubber bullets.

CHP members had blocked the entrances with furniture. Thick layers of smoke formed inside the building.

Özgür Özel had initially announced that he would not leave the headquarters. In a video message, he said, "We are under attack." Following the police intervention, he left the building accompanied by the applause of his supporters.

"The Republican People's Party is now on the streets, in the squares, and on the path to power," he stated. Özel marched to the Parliament building together with CHP deputies and supporters.

CHP members and supporters attempted to stop the police.

CONTROVERSIAL COURT RULING

The Ankara Governor's Office ordered the evacuation of the CHP headquarters, thereby ensuring the enforcement of the court ruling. On Thursday, the court retroactively declared the 2023 convention, in which Özgür Özel was elected CHP Chairman, invalid and removed Özel from office. His controversial predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, was temporarily reappointed as the party leader in his place. The decision triggered protests in Ankara and other cities.

During the legal process, allegations surfaced that delegates might have been influenced by bribery to vote for Özgür Özel. A former party member had initiated the process. The case was initially dismissed in October, then reopened. While the CHP leadership denies the accusations, Özgür Özel described the events as a "judicial coup."

INTERNATIONAL REACTION GROWS

Observers find the court ruling unconstitutional and view it as a politically motivated decision. The opposition accuses the government of trying to weaken the CHP. Meanwhile, numerous lawsuits are ongoing against party members and elected opposition representatives.

The European Union also reacted strongly to the developments. German Member of Parliament Johann Wadephul (CDU) expressed his concerns, also referring to Turkey's targeted EU membership.

The CHP, led by Özgür Özel, achieved a surprise success in the 2024 local elections and won the highest number of mayoralties across the country. Since then, numerous opposition mayors have been detained or arrested as part of terrorism and corruption investigations; among them is the former Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Erdoğan's political rival, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

DER SPIEGEL

OPERATION IN ANKARA: TURKISH AUTHORITIES ORDER EVACUATION OF OPPOSITION HEADQUARTERS

TENSIONS IN TURKEY ESCALATE FURTHER

Following the removal of Özgür Özel, leader of the largest opposition party, the CHP, authorities ordered the evacuation of the party's headquarters in Ankara by police force. According to the statement from the Ankara Governor's Office, this step means the implementation of the court ruling that temporarily reinstated Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as party leader.

Since his removal by court order on Thursday, Özel has not left the party headquarters; he effectively entrenched himself in the building with his party's deputies. Thousands of his supporters gathered in front of the building to show solidarity with Özel. Protests against his forced removal were also held in Istanbul.

As seen in the footage, special operations police arrived at the CHP headquarters in Ankara on Sunday and established a security cordon around the building.

ZDF

TURKEY: POLICE RAID CHP HEADQUARTERS IN ANKARA

Turkish police forcibly entered the headquarters of Turkey's largest opposition party, the CHP, in the capital, Ankara. CHP leader Özgür Özel, who was removed from office by a judicial decision, was resisting in the building along with deputies.

Tensions rose in Ankara following the removal of the leader of Turkey's largest opposition party, the CHP, by court order. In the afternoon, police entered the CHP headquarters using tear gas. The removed Chairman, Özgür Özel, had entrenched himself in the building with some deputies. According to Halk TV footage, police broke through the barricades during the operation to enter.

It was also reported that rubber bullets were used. In the initial moments, the situation was chaotic. Thick layers of smoke formed inside the building. Özgür Özel announced that he would not leave the headquarters.

The Ankara Governor's Office had previously ordered the evacuation of the CHP headquarters. The Governor's Office announced that this step was taken to implement the court ruling that temporarily reinstated former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as party chairman.

FAZ

TURKISH POLICE RAID CHP HEADQUARTERS

OPERATION AGAINST THE OPPOSITION

Turkish police raided the CHP headquarters. There was a scuffle in front of the CHP headquarters in Ankara.

The removed leader of Turkey's largest opposition party is holed up in the party headquarters. It is reported that tear gas and rubber bullets are now being used in the police evacuation operation.

Turkish police entered the headquarters of Turkey's largest opposition party, the CHP, using tear gas. It is stated that the removed Chairman, Özgür Özel, is entrenched inside. According to Halk TV footage, police broke through the barricades set up during the operation to enter the building. It was also alleged that rubber bullets were used. It was reported that the situation was not clear in the initial stage. Özel, however, announced that he would not leave the building.

Authorities had previously ordered the evacuation of the CHP headquarters. According to the statement from the Ankara Governor's Office, this step was taken to implement the court ruling that temporarily reinstated former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as the CHP Chairman.

Since his removal by Thursday's court ruling, Özel has not left the party headquarters and has remained in the building with his party's deputies. According to the footage, special operations police were deployed in front of the CHP headquarters and set up security barriers.

A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED DECISION?

A court in Ankara had invalidated the 2023 convention in which Özgür Özel was elected CHP Chairman due to alleged irregularities and removed Özel from office. The court temporarily reappointed his controversial predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in his place.

The 77-year-old Kılıçdaroğlu served as the CHP chairman for over a decade. He was defeated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the elections three years ago; subsequently, he also lost to Özgür Özel in the struggle for party leadership.

The decision is viewed as a heavy blow to Erdoğan's political rivals. Observers see the decision as a politically motivated step. The government, on the other hand, emphasizes the independence of the judiciary. The decision is not yet final.