Tens of thousands of people protested in the capital Ankara on Sunday ahead of a court ruling that could see the removal of the head of the main opposition.
Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has denounced Monday’s hearing as part of a judicial coup by Turkey’s government against the country’s opposition.
After a year-long legal crackdown against hundreds of CHP members, live footage on Sunday showed people chanting for the resignation of President while waving Turkish flags and party banners.
What were the protests in Ankara about?
The crowds gathered in Tandogan Square in Ankara in a show of defiance on the eve of the hearing. CHP Vice President Murat Bakan claimed there were 50,000 people in attendance.
In a speech at Sunday’s rally, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said the people had gathered to “stand against the (judicial) coup” being waged against the party, referring to Monday’s court hearing that could see him ousted as leader.
“This government does not want democracy. They know they cannot win the elections if there is democracy. They don’t want justice: they know if there’s justice they won’t be able to cover up their crimes,” Ozel told the crowd.
He dismissed the case as “political, the allegations are slander.”
“This is a coup (and) we will resist,” Ozel said.
“Unfortunately, anyone who poses a democratic threat to the government is now the government’s target,” he said, adding that Erdogan’s regime was “choosing to govern through oppression rather than the ballot box.”
What does the court hearing against the CHP involve?
Monday’s hearing seeks to overturn the results of a CHP congress in November 2023 over alleged vote-rigging. The congress elected Ozel as leader.
Critics say the case is a politically-motivated attempt to undermine Turkey’s oldest political party, which won a huge victory over President Erdogan’s (AKP) in 2024 local elections and has been rising in polls.
Addressing the Turkish leader, Ozel said: “Erdogan, did you ever see Tandogan Square like this?” as the protesters chanted: “Erdogan resign!”
Hundreds of members of the CHP have been jailed over accusations of corruption and terrorism. Among those jailed is Erdogan’s main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
where hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest.
Edited by: Karl Sexton
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