Police in the western Turkish metropolis of Izmir on Tuesday used water cannon against thousands of demonstrators protesting the court-ordered removal of the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
Demonstrators fled into side streets as police confronted them, a dpa reporter at the scene witnessed.
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, where Özel had intended to speak.
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.
The demonstration was subsequently moved to a nearby location, where it proceeded peacefully. Addressing his supporters from a bus, Özel spoke of tens of thousands of participants in Izmir, which is considered a stronghold of the secular opposition.
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.
The Turkish government has portrayed the events as an internal party conflict. On Monday, the ruling party's spokesman, Ömer Celik, said there was “far more chaos” within the CHP than in the Middle East. Erdoğan has not yet commented on the matter.
Özel calls for early party congress
At the rally in Izmir, Özel called on Kılıçdaroğlu to hold an extraordinary party congress as soon as possible, where he could stand for re-election before the party's approximately 2 million members.
The state news agency Anadolu reported that Kılıçdaroğlu is planning to hold the first meeting of the party council on June 1. A decision on convening a party congress could be made then.
Özel also criticized the timing of his dismissal. "After 47 years, we have managed to take the party to first place," he said, referring to the CHP’s surprise success in the 2024 local elections – a year after Özel was elected party leader. "Do not divide the party; do not hold us back on our path to government," he added.
The 51-year-old views the court ruling as an attempt by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to plunge the opposition into crisis.
Özel said he would travel on to his home town of Manisa. Turkey is currently celebrating Eid al-Adha, a festival during which families traditionally visit one another.
A new party?
Several protesters said they would support Özel even if he formed 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.
An elderly man on the fringes of the demonstration said he wished the “traitors” would be stung by bees, referring to the new party leadership.
Raids continue
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, 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.
