Vote-buying case on hold until October

Ruling may impact Turkish democracy

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An Ankara court yesterday adjourned a key hearing into alleged vote buying that could upend the leadership of Turkey's main opposition CHP party, which has been battling a growing array of legal challenges.

After more than an hour's debate, the judge adjourned the case until Oct 24, an AFP correspondent inside the court said of the hearing which could have big impact not only on the party but on Turkish democracy.

Critics say the vote-buying case is a politically motivated attempt to undermine Turkey's oldest political party, which won a huge victory over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP in 2024 local elections and has been rising in the polls.

The CHP denies the charges and has accused the government of using the judiciary to carry out a “political coup”, hosting a rally late Sunday that saw vast crowds of protesters packing into Ankara’s Tandogan Square.