By Ece Toksabay
ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey’s main opposition re-elected Ozgur Ozel as leader on Sunday at an extraordinary congress called in a bid to shield him and other party chiefs from a court ruling next month that could order their ouster.
An Ankara court is set to rule over whether to annul the 2023 congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) where Ozel was elected chairman over alleged irregularities, a case government critics say highlights Turkey’s slide towards autocracy under President Tayyip Erdogan.
The ruling, which is being closely watched in financial markets, had been expected earlier in September but was delayed until October 24.
Of 917 votes cast at Sunday’s CHP gathering, 835 were deemed valid and all went to Ozel, the party said.
By securing a fresh mandate from party delegates, CHP officials hope to reduce the risk that the upcoming court ruling on the 2023 congress could unseat Ozel.
Twelve CHP members, including jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – Erdogan’s biggest political rival – face charges that range from offering delegates cash and jobs to violating Turkey’s political parties law. All deny wrongdoing.
The court rejected prosecutors’ requests to suspend Ozel and his administration in the meantime.
Ozel has risen to prominence since Imamoglu’s detention in March, emerging as Erdogan’s next biggest rival.
Erdogan, whose ruling AK Party has dominated Turkish politics for more than two decades, has repeatedly attacked the CHP over the allegations, calling last year’s vote “tainted” and a “fraudulent process”.
The CHP is the biggest opposition force in parliament and controls Turkey’s largest cities, including Istanbul and Ankara.
(Reporting by Ece Toksabay;Editing by Helen Popper)
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