Embattled opposition re-elects leader Ozel at party congress

Turkey's main opposition CHP reelected its leader Ozgur Ozel at an extraordinary congress Sunday as the party fights off a barrage of what critics say are politically-motivated legal challenges.

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The move comes as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) seeks to shore up its leadership as opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have faced a series of lawsuits and arrests.

Among them is a potentially damaging lawsuit seeking to oust Mr Ozel, which had its second hearing on Sept 15. It seeks to overturn the result of CHP’s November 2023 congress which elected Mr Ozel, on grounds of alleged vote rigging.

At Sunday's 22nd extraordinary congress in the capital Ankara, delegates overwhelmingly reelected Mr Ozel who won all 835 valid votes cast. Another 82 were ruled invalid.

Mr Ozel’s reelection is expected to invalidate the legal grounds for the lawsuit against the party.