"The postponed hearing could lead to the removal of Ozgur Ozel, the Republican People's Party's chairman. A court in Ankara has postponed the hearing of a controversial case that could oust the leader of Turkiye's main opposition party, amid protests against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Monday, the hearing about alleged internal irregularities during the Republican People's Party's (CHP) 2023 congress was adjourned until October 24."
"Prosecutors have accused CHP leaders of vote-buying at the internal event in 2023 in which Ozgur Ozel was elected chairman, allegations the CHP says are politically motivated. The case is the latest in a long line of challenges faced by the party. The Turkish government has rejected accusations of political interference, insisting the judiciary acts independently. Officials said the cases against CHP figures stem from corruption charges, which the party denied and argued are designed to weaken the opposition."
"On Sunday, Ozel told thousands of protesters in the national capital that the case was part of Erdogan's wider attempt to undermine democracy. This case is political, the allegations are slander, said Ozel, who claimed CHP was experiencing the grave consequences of government oppression. Anyone who poses a democratic threat to the government is now the government's target, he suggested."
The Ankara court postponed the hearing into alleged internal irregularities at the Republican People's Party's 2023 congress, adjourning it until October 24. Prosecutors allege vote-buying during the event that elected Ozgur Ozel chairman; the CHP calls the accusations politically motivated. Turkish authorities insist the judiciary is independent and say cases relate to corruption charges. Hundreds of CHP members have been jailed this year, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Critics say the prosecutions aim to weaken the CHP after its local-election gains. Ozel told protesters the case represents government oppression and an effort by Erdogan to undermine democracy.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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