Turkish police forcibly entered the Istanbul headquarters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, on Monday, using teargas against party members protesting a court-appointed interim leader from taking over. The controversial appointment came after a court in Istanbul suspended the party’s leadership last week, citing irregularities in the procedures used to appoint them.
The incident comes amid a widening crackdown on the opposition by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the CHP, a leading contender for the presidency, was jailed for corruption. Erdogan’s crackdown on the CHP is part of his wider effort to remain in office despite a term limit law that says he must leave the presidency in 2028, Nate Schenkkan wrote in July.
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