Turkish police raid opposition CHP headquarters in Ankara

Turkish riot police deployed tear gas and breached barricades to storm the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara on May 24. The confrontation occurred after a court ruling on May 21 invalidated the 2023 party congress that elected Ozgur Ozel as chairman, reinstating his predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Witnesses reported plumes of tear gas inside the building as supporters of Ozel erected barricades and threw objects at police. It remains unclear if anyone was injured. The dispute escalated when Kilicdaroglu's legal team, accompanied by lawmakers and supporters, attempted to take possession of the party building but were blocked by Ozel's supporters, leading to a scuffle outside.

Following the police intervention, Ozel addressed his supporters, declaring, "From this moment on, the CHP will take to the streets, to the squares, and march towards power." He then led a march toward the parliament building, with supporters also calling for protests in Istanbul.

This action against the CHP follows a pattern of political conflict between the party and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. In 2025, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political rival of Erdogan and a potential presidential candidate for the CHP in 2028, faced arrest and charges of corruption. The Turkish government denies using the judiciary to suppress political opponents, asserting the independence of its judicial system.

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From this moment on, the CHP will take to the streets, to the squares, and march towards power.