FLASH
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Turkish police have arrested 13 people as part of an investigation into the 2023 congress of the Republican People's Party (CHP), after a court removed the opposition party's leader, Ozgur Ozel, from office.
According to Turkish state media, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office announced that suspects have been arrested in 7 provinces on suspicion of interfering in the voting of delegates during the 2023 congress.
They face charges of “violating the law on political parties,” “accepting bribes,” and “laundering proceeds of crime,” the statement said. The search and seizure operations were carried out at the suspects’ addresses in the provinces of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, and Malatya.
The Court of Appeals on Thursday annulled the congress that elected Ozgur Ozel, citing unspecified irregularities. In his place, the court reinstated former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a prominent political figure who lost the election to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Republican People's Party condemned the decision, calling it a "judicial coup", while Ozel promised to fight it through legal appeals and to personally stay "day and night" at the party's headquarters in Ankara.
According to analysts, the court's decision is seen as an indicator of Turkey's fragile balance between democracy and autocracy, while it could extend Erdogan's 23-year rule, at a time when the country is facing economic challenges and high inflation.
The next national elections are scheduled for 2028, but they could be held earlier if Erdogan, who faces term limits, decides to run again. The court's ruling has also been seen as increasing the possibility of snap elections.
The Turkish government has denied accusations that it uses the judicial system against political rivals, insisting that the country's judiciary is independent.
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