Cancellation lawsuit against CHP congress to be heard today: İmamoğlu to testify

The first hearing for the lawsuits filed by former Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Lütfü Savaş and several CHP delegates to cancel the 38th Ordinary Congress, held on November 4-5 where Özgür Özel defeated Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, will be heard today (April 17).

The individual lawsuits filed by Savaş and the delegates have been consolidated with the case file opened by Izmir delegate Hatip Karaaslan at the Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance.

The CHP has submitted its defense regarding the allegations to the court. In its defense, the party pointed to the legal requirement that lawsuits against congress decisions must be filed within three months from the date of the event. Furthermore, it emphasized that the allegations of "delegates being paid to vote" are "hearsay-based slander."

The party leadership does not expect any decision to emerge from this first hearing. Legal experts within the party, recalling that similar cases were rejected twice before, commented: "Even if there were an issue with the 38th Congress, we held the 21st Extraordinary Congress on April 4, therefore the applications made have become invalid."

86 PEOPLE SUMMONED TO TESTIFY

Meanwhile, the investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations that "delegates were paid to vote" at the 38th Ordinary Congress is ongoing.

Within the scope of the investigation, it has been decided to take the statements of 86 people, including CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—who is currently detained and suspended from duty—Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) President Buğra Gökçe, and several journalists.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in its instruction sent to the Ankara Police Department's Financial Crimes Branch, requested that the statements of the individuals in question be taken in light of witness testimonies, MASAK reports, and Social Security Institution (SGK) and land registry records.

YSK REJECTS REQUEST TO CANCEL 21ST EXTRAORDINARY CONVENTION

Meanwhile, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) has rejected the application for the cancellation of the CHP's 21st Extraordinary Convention, which was held on April 6, 2025.

Academic Kemal Çiftçi had applied to the Çankaya District Election Board for the cancellation and re-holding of the convention, but the board rejected the objection, stating that the CHP Presidential Council had submitted the lists in accordance with procedures and that the allegations were not supported by documentation.

Following Çiftçi's appeal of this decision to the YSK on the grounds of "complete illegality," the YSK also rejected the application, stating that the decision of the Çankaya 4th District Election Board was final and that there was no case of complete illegality.

News Source: 12punto