CHP Kurultay Davası: A Contentious Legal Battle

The “CHP Kurultay Davası” (CHP Congress Case) refers to a significant legal dispute surrounding the extraordinary congress held by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in 2018. This case, and the events leading up to it, reflect a deep power struggle within one of Turkey’s oldest and most established political parties.

The core issue stemmed from a push for an early extraordinary congress to challenge the leadership of then-Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Dissident voices within the party, primarily led by Muharrem İnce, argued that the CHP needed a change in direction and that Kılıçdaroğlu was not effectively leading the party to electoral success. Following İnce’s strong, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, performance in the 2018 presidential election, calls for a congress intensified.

Supporters of an extraordinary congress sought to gather the necessary signatures from CHP delegates to trigger the vote. However, disputes arose regarding the validity of these signatures. Allegations surfaced concerning manipulation, forgery, and other irregularities in the signature collection process. Kılıçdaroğlu’s leadership maintained that the required threshold of signatures was not legitimately met.

This disagreement culminated in the “CHP Kurultay Davası,” where supporters of an extraordinary congress filed a lawsuit demanding that the courts recognize the validity of the collected signatures and force the party to hold a leadership election. The legal battle was highly publicized and became a focal point of internal CHP politics. The case involved intense scrutiny of the party’s internal rules and regulations, as well as the verification procedures for delegate signatures.

The court’s decision ultimately played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the CHP. The initial rulings varied, leading to periods of uncertainty and internal strife. While some lower courts initially sided with the proponents of the congress, higher courts eventually ruled in favor of Kılıçdaroğlu, effectively upholding the validity of his leadership and preventing the extraordinary congress from taking place.

The aftermath of the “CHP Kurultay Davası” had lasting consequences. It deepened the existing divisions within the party and led to increased factionalism. While Kılıçdaroğlu remained chairman, the challenges to his leadership continued to influence internal dynamics. The case highlighted the challenges faced by the CHP in navigating internal disagreements and maintaining unity, particularly in the face of electoral setbacks. Furthermore, it demonstrated the complexities of internal party disputes being adjudicated within the Turkish legal system, and the significant impact these legal battles can have on the political landscape.