Absolute nullity ruling issued in CHP convention case

The 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice (BAM) has ruled in the CHP convention case for the interim removal of Özgür Özel and the party administration from office, and for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his administration to take over the duties.

Following an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations of irregularities regarding the 38th Ordinary Convention of the CHP held on November 4-5, 2023, former Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Lütfü Savaş and several delegates filed a lawsuit requesting the cancellation of the convention. The lawsuits filed were consolidated at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance.

The court ruled that there was no need to issue a verdict regarding the main lawsuit filed for the cancellation of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention, stating that the case had become 'moot'. Furthermore, in its assessment of the consolidated files, the court rejected the lawsuit filed by Lütfü Savaş on the grounds that he lacked the standing to file the suit.

The 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice (BAM) completed its appellate review regarding the decision rendered on October 24, 2025, by the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance, which had ruled that "there was no need to issue a verdict due to the case becoming moot" in the lawsuit filed for the cancellation of the CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention held on November 4-5, 2023.

As a result of the review, it was stated that the CHP's 38th Ordinary Convention and the Istanbul Provincial Congress were invalidated due to 'absolute nullity' because they were in violation of the mandatory provisions of the law.

The court decided to cancel the CHP's 38th Ordinary Elective Convention due to 'absolute nullity'.

It was also stated that because the convention in question was cancelled, all subsequent ordinary and extraordinary conventions, as well as all decisions taken at these conventions, were also cancelled.

It was emphasized that due to the cancellation of the convention in question, a decision was made for former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the previous party organs who were in office before the convention to continue their duties as they were.

LOCAL COURT HAD REJECTED THE REQUEST

The fact that these channels read the decision before any official document reached the party lawyers from the appellate court increased the tension at the CHP Headquarters. The local court had rejected the absolute nullity request of Lütfü Savaş and the delegates in October and had moved the file to the appellate court. This new decision taken by the appellate court overturned the local court's ruling.

COURT DECISION: RETURN TO PRE-NOVEMBER 4-5 STATUS AND NOTIFICATION TO INSTITUTIONS

The operative part of the decision signed by the 36th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice includes the following statements:

"For the interim removal of its members from office, and for those who were in office before the convention dated November 4-5, 2023, as well as the members of the party assembly and the high disciplinary board, to assume the duties and be reinstated to their positions as an interim measure until the decision becomes final; and for the interim injunction decision to be sent to the Supreme Election Council, the Ankara Provincial Election Board, the Çankaya 4th District Election Board, and the Ankara Governorship for implementation."

This ruling, by accepting the requests in the petition exactly as they were, reinstates the members of the party assembly and the high disciplinary board who were in office before the convention where Özgür Özel was elected chairman as an interim measure, while also compelling the relevant state election and administrative institutions to take action in accordance with this decision.

HERE IS THE COURT'S ABSOLUTE NULLITY RULING

News Source: 12punto