Court case that could oust opposition leader follows detentions of more than 500 people including 17 mayors over past year
Tens of thousands of people have protested in the Turkish capital, Ankara, against a court case that could oust the head of the main opposition on Monday after a year-long legal crackdown on hundreds of its members.
Live footage showed crowds chanting for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s resignation while waving Turkish flags and party banners.
The court decision on Monday whether to invalidate the 2023 congress of the Republican People’s party (CHP) over alleged procedural irregularities could reshape the party, rattle financial markets and influence the timing of a general election set for 2028. The court could also delay the ruling.
Speaking at Sunday’s rally, the CHP leader, Özgür Özel, said the government was trying to cling to power by undermining democratic norms and suppressing dissent after opposition victories in local elections over the past year.
