CHP 22nd Extraordinary Congress and General Chairmanship Election (September 2025)

The 22nd Extraordinary Congress of the CHP convened in Ankara on 21 September 2025, during which Özgür Özel was elected party leader for the third time. The congress was held at the Nazım Hikmet Culture Center in Ankara’s Yenimahalle district. Within the framework of the party constitution, a vote of no confidence was brought to the agenda and followed by an election, resulting in Özgür Özel being re-elected as General Chairman of the CHP. This congress marked the second extraordinary and third overall congress held by the party in the last two years.

22nd Extraordinary Congress of the CHP, 21 September 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Background

The CHP has faced legal proceedings due to lawsuits filed in connection with the 38th Ordinary Congress held on 4–5 November 2023 and the 21st Extraordinary Congress held on 6 April 2025. These lawsuits raised allegations that a receiver could be appointed to manage the party. Prior to the trial, which was postponed to 24 October 2025, an extraordinary congress was called with the signatures of approximately 1,000 delegates.

Convening of the Congress

Murat Emir, Deputy Chair of the CHP Parliamentary Group, was elected as chair of the congress. Due to physical constraints of the venue, no spectators were admitted. Former party leaders Hikmet Çetin and Murat Karayalçın attended the congress, while Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, despite being invited, did not attend. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş also participated and emphasized the importance of party unity.

Photographs of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other detained mayors were displayed in the congress hall.

Vote of No Confidence and Legal Strategy

In accordance with Article 48 of the CHP Constitution, an extraordinary congress was convened at the request of delegates to hold a vote of no confidence. As a result of this vote, Özgür Özel and his leadership, elected at the 38th Ordinary Congress, were removed from office. This not only ended the current leadership but also transformed the congress into an elective body.

This procedure aimed to render moot the case scheduled to be heard on 24 October at the 42nd Ankara Civil Court of First Instance, which had been filed on grounds of “absolute invalidity.” Party officials argued that the actions taken during the congress had invalidated the allegations cited as grounds for the lawsuit.

Election of the Party Chairman

At the congress, Özgür Özel ran as the sole candidate. The election results were as follows: the total number of registered delegates was 1,127; the number of delegates who voted was 917; and the number of valid votes was 835.

Özel received all valid votes and was re-elected as party chairman, marking his third assumption of this position within the last two years.

CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel speaking at the 22nd Extraordinary Congress of the CHP, 21 September 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)

Elections for the Party Council and High Disciplinary Council

Following the election of the party chairman, elections were held for the Party Council (PM) and the High Disciplinary Council (YDK). The elections were conducted using a block list system, with no opposing lists submitted. Only one change occurred in each body:

• In the Party Council, Sercan Çığgın was elected to replace Ahmet Hakan Uyanık, who was unable to assume office due to his absence abroad.
• In the High Disciplinary Council, Harika Taybıllı, the Provincial Chairman of Edirne, replaced Ali Balta, who had been elected as Chairman of the Çankaya District Branch.