A court in Ankara has ordered the removal of Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's largest opposition party CHP. German politicians voiced concern over the ruling.
A court in Ankara ordered the removal of CHP leader Özgür Özel on Thursday. The court annulled the 2023 party congress, citing alleged bribery of delegates to vote for him.
Özel called the decision politically motivated and a black day for democracy. He said his party would appeal to the Supreme Court and that he and his colleagues would not leave the party headquarters.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticized the move on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Helsingborg. He said such a decision contradicts Turkey's stated goal of EU membership.
