ANKARA: A Turkish court effectively ousted the main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel on Thursday, annulling the 2023 party congress that elected him chairman in a ruling that dealt a blow to President Tayyip Erdogan’s challengers and hit financial markets. The appeals court annulled the congress over irregularities and ruled that former Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu — a divisive figure within the party who lost to Erdogan in an election earlier in 2023 — should replace his successor Ozel.

A Turkish court has effectively removed the head of the country’s main opposition party by annulling a 2023 congress that elected him.

The Regional Court of Justice in Ankara ruled to temporarily remove main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel and the...