Turkish Court Dismisses Graft Case Against Opposition CHP

A Turkish court dismissed a graft case against the opposition CHP, which challenged its 2023 congress, calling the lawsuit baseless; the party denies the allegations, viewing them as politically motivated, while tensions remain over ongoing legal actions against figures like Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

A court in Turkey has officially dismissed a graft case filed against the country’s main opposition party, the social democratic Republican People’s Party (CHP), ruling that the lawsuit lacked any legal merit. The case, which had drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally, sought to annul the party’s 2023 congress, a pivotal event during which longtime party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu was replaced by CHP leader Ozgur Ozel. The lawsuit alleged that the congress was marred by vote-buying and procedural violations, suggesting that the leadership change was conducted improperly.

However, the presiding judge rejected the lawsuit, declaring that it had “no basis” under Turkish law. The decision was met with visible relief inside the courtroom, where applause erupted after the ruling was read, reflecting both the party members’ sense of vindication and the public interest in the case.

The dismissal of the case is expected to alleviate some of the tensions that have been building over the past year, during which the CHP has been subject to an intense legal crackdown. Party officials have consistently denied all accusations, asserting that the charges were politically motivated. They argue that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has sought to use the judiciary as a tool to weaken and intimidate the opposition, a claim that Erdogan’s administration rejects. Erdogan himself is a longstanding member of the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The political backdrop to the case is significant. In last year’s local elections, the CHP achieved major victories, taking control of several key municipalities. Following these successes, CHP-controlled local governments experienced a wave of arrests targeting party officials and supporters earlier this year, intensifying concerns about political interference in the judicial system.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is widely regarded as a strong potential challenger to Erdogan after his 22-year tenure, remains in pretrial custody on corruption charges, which he strongly denies. In addition, prosecutors in Istanbul have launched a new investigation against Imamoglu, this time accusing him of espionage, according to a report from the state news agency Anadolu. These ongoing legal proceedings against a prominent opposition figure have drawn criticism from observers who fear they may reflect broader attempts to suppress political competition.

Despite these concerns, Erdogan’s government maintains that Turkey’s judiciary operates independently and is free from political influence. The dismissal of the graft case against the CHP could be seen as a moment of legal validation for the opposition party, potentially easing some of the political pressures it has faced over the last year while highlighting ongoing tensions between the ruling party and its challengers.