Police in the western Turkish metropolis of Izmir on Tuesday used water cannon against demonstrators protesting the court-ordered removal of the leadership of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
The dismissed party leader, Özgür Özel, had called for the protest. Even before the demonstration began, police had cordoned off Republic Square, a major public plaza on the coast.
Demonstrators fled into side streets as police confronted them, a dpa reporter at the scene witnessed.
More than 1,000 protesters gathered around the square, chanting slogans such as “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism” and “We will win by fighting.”
Protesters described former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was appointed interim party chief by a court in Ankara, as a “traitor.” Chanting “Tayyip Kemal,” they linked him to Turkey's long-time leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
A speech by Özel was expected later on Tuesday.
Last week, a court in Ankara annulled the CHP’s 2023 party congress, at which Özel had been elected leader, citing allegations that delegates had been bribed to vote for him.
The CHP leadership has rejected the accusations and appealed to the Supreme Court.
The court temporarily reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu, 77, as party leader, triggering protests in Ankara and Istanbul.
Earlier on Tuesday, more opposition politicians were taken into custody in Turkey, including Mustafa Güney, the CHP mayor of the Güzelbahce district in Izmir. Police also searched the local municipal administration, the DHA news agency reported. Güney is considered an ally of Özel.
The raid was carried out as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the construction sector, DHA said. The head of the municipality’s construction department and Güney’s wife were also detained.
The CHP says it has long been the target of a politically motivated campaign by the government.
Numerous CHP politicians and mayors are currently in jail, including ousted Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the party’s most prominent detained figure and widely seen as Erdoğan’s main political rival.
İmamoğlu has been held since March 2025 and is on trial on corruption charges.
The Turkish government denies interfering in the judiciary.
Supporters stand by Özel
One 50-year-old woman named Yasmin said she had come to “defend the Turkish Republic” and would “definitely support” Özel if he decided to found a new party.
Before his removal last week, Özel told newspaper Pencere that he would “never give up” on the CHP and would only create a replacement party if the government dissolved the CHP altogether.
Another demonstrator in her mid-30s sharply criticized last week’s police operation against CHP headquarters in Ankara, during which officers forcibly entered the building. Images showed clashes with CHP supporters who had barricaded themselves inside.
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