Divide and Conquer: Erdoğan Plotting Kılıçdaroğlu’s Return to Shatter CHP — Just Waiting for the Right Moment to Strike
Erdoğan is frustrated by the opposition’s ability to mobilize street protests and is strategizing to divide it. To that end, he is reportedly working to bring former leader Kılıçdaroğlu back.
When Istanbul Mayor and opposition presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained on March 19, rumors swirled in political circles that this was just the beginning of a broader plan to sideline the opposition.
After the arrests of İmamoğlu and 47 others in the first wave of the operations, journalist Deniz Zeyrek1 reported on March 282 that two separate trustee (kayyum) strategies were being discussed—one for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), and another for the main opposition party, CHP.
But those plans were quickly shelved. Protests erupted nationwide the same day, and with the Kurdish peace talks quietly resuming, the government couldn’t lean on its usual “terror ties” justification for trustee appointments.
Still, analysts familiar with Erdoğan’s tactics warned that the government might simply be waiting for things to cool down—especially when it comes to the CHP. They noted that the trustee option hasn’t been entirely ruled out.
Soon after, former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his allies began questioning the legitimacy of the party’s recent leadership change, claiming the last congress was marred by irregularities. What raised eyebrows was that these claims were aired on pro-government TV channels.
In response, current CHP leader Özgür Özel called an extraordinary congress to settle the matter—but that didn’t end the controversy. A lawsuit was filed to annul the congress results, and as hearings resumed this week, the issue is once again front and center.
Earlier this week, journalist Nevşin Mengü3 reported that Kılıçdaroğlu is actively preparing a team for a potential return to leadership. Her report sparked a wave of political chatter and was soon echoed by other outlets. She also faced a coordinated social media backlash, followed by news that Kılıçdaroğlu had filed a lawsuit against her—something she confirmed in her May 29 YouTube broadcast.
Just yesterday, on May 29, journalist İsmail Saymaz4 appeared on Halk TV and confirmed much of what Mengü had reported. Here's what he said.5
İsmail Saymaz's Claim: If the Court Rules for 'Absolute Nullity' of CHP Congress, Kılıçdaroğlu Is Ready to Step In Again
Journalist İsmail Saymaz has made a striking claim regarding the lawsuit filed to annul the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress, which took place on November 4–5, 2023. According to Saymaz, there’s growing anticipation in Ankara that the court might issue a ruling of “mutlak butlan” (absolute nullity) in the hearing now postponed to June 30. If that happens, former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would be willing to step back in, reportedly saying, “Should the party be left leaderless?”
The case, which centers around allegations of irregularities at the congress, could potentially invalidate not only the November Congress but also the subsequent Extraordinary Congress. This would mean the entire leadership change might be declared void, opening the door for Kılıçdaroğlu to return as party leader.
Appearing on the “Yeni Bir Sabah” morning show hosted by İsmail Küçükkaya on Halk TV, Saymaz shared insights from his conversations with Kılıçdaroğlu’s inner circle and party insiders:
“There’s a sharp internal debate going on within CHP, and things are heating up. I spoke with people close to Kılıçdaroğlu and the party headquarters yesterday, and I’ve been sensing the pulse in Ankara,” he said. “From what I understand, the momentum in Ankara is shifting toward a ruling of absolute nullity. That’s where the pressure is leaning.”
So, what does "mutlak butlan" (absolute nullity) actually mean?
Saymaz explained that this would basically rewind everything back to just before the November 3–4, 2023 Congress. In other words, it would invalidate everything that happened under the leadership of Özgür Özel since then and hand control of the party back to Kılıçdaroğlu and his last elected party council.
According to Saymaz, people in Kılıçdaroğlu’s camp are not only expecting this ruling—they actually want it. “This would mean Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu coming back into office,” he said.
“Kılıçdaroğlu wouldn't say no”
When Saymaz asked whether Kılıçdaroğlu would accept such a ruling, those close to him reportedly replied,
“No, he wouldn’t reject it. Should the party be left without a leader? Özgür Özel would be out. Shouldn’t Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu step in? Should the party be left headless?”
"He believes the congress was shady"
Saymaz also noted that the lawsuit has been fueling tension within CHP. Saymaz explained:
“People are wondering why Kılıçdaroğlu isn’t speaking out about this. His inner circle says, ‘He believes there were shady dealings in that congress. That’s why he’s staying silent—because he believes it was questionable.’”
So, if the court does rule the congress void, Saymaz believes there’s a strong chance Kılıçdaroğlu will accept the outcome and step in. But that, he warns, could open a whole new can of worms for CHP.
“The government is using this lawsuit to stir chaos within CHP”
Saymaz emphasized that the ruling government sees this legal battle as a way to deepen internal strife within the main opposition party.
Saymaz said:
“The government is weaponizing this lawsuit to distract CHP, pull its focus inward, and spark internal fighting. And unfortunately, there’s a fragile enough environment within the party for this strategy to work.”
"CHP insiders say, ‘We’ll do what we did at Saraçhane’"
If Kılıçdaroğlu does return to the helm through a court ruling, the current leadership under Özgür Özel is expected to strongly oppose it. Saymaz shared what he heard from people in the party’s upper ranks:
“I asked, ‘What will you do if that happens?’ and they said, ‘We’ll do what we did at Saraçhane.’” (This is a reference to the mass mobilization and protests during the Ekrem İmamoğlu trial.)
“Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel need to sit down and solve this”
In Saymaz’s view, both sides, Kılıçdaroğlu and Özel, need to come together to resolve the issue, without falling into what he sees as a trap set by the ruling party.
“CHP has to get ahead of this. They need to sort this out among themselves, without letting AKP’s political games divide them. There’s still mutual respect between Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel. Özel continues to speak about Kılıçdaroğlu in positive terms. These two can sit down and work this out. Because if it gets left to the courts, things could get really ugly. And CHP might not come out of this in one piece.”
Deniz Zeyrek is a Turkish journalist who began his career at Evrensel in 1994 before joining Radikal in 1996, where he held key roles such as Ankara bureau chief and diplomatic correspondent. After Radikal closed, he moved to Hürriyet in 2013, but left following the 2018 sale of Doğan Media Group. That same year, he joined Sözcü a paper aligned with the CHP, and now reports on Ankara politics for Nefes, a newer outlet close to the party’s emerging leadership.
Nevşin Mengü is an independent Turkish journalist who began her career in 2004 at Kanaltürk and later worked as a reporter for Habertürk TV. She served as the Tehran correspondent for One Ajans, reporting from Iran, before returning to Turkey as a foreign news editor and anchor for major outlets like Hürriyet and CNN Türk. Her tenure at CNN Türk ended in 2017 following its acquisition by the government-affiliated Demirören Group. Today, she produces critical, independent journalism on her YouTube channel, known for its challenge to mainstream narratives.
İsmail Saymaz is a well-known Turkish journalist recognized for his reporting on human rights violations, freedom of expression, and major social issues. He began his career at *Radikal* newspaper in 2002 and later worked for major outlets like *Hürriyet* and *Sözcü*. Saymaz has also hosted programs on Halk TV. Throughout his journalism career, he has faced prosecution in more than 20 cases and was even placed under house arrest for a period in recent years.