In a speech, Özel calls the decision “a coup against the people” and believes that the court should intervene to avoid a political crisis.
The verdict in Ankara questioned the legitimacy of the process that brought Özel to the party leadership position after his victory over former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who, according to the verdict, should regain his position.
According to Al Jazeera, Özgür Özel has promised not to leave the party headquarters after the verdict that ousted him.
The CHP made a strong advance in the 2024 local elections against the AKP, but has since been hit by legal proceedings and the arrests of several representatives, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is seen as Erdoğan's main rival ahead of the next presidential election.
