DEM Party Condemns CHP Ousting; International Alarm Over Turkey's Democratic Crisis

Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party on May 25, 2026 issued a formal condemnation of the Ankara court ruling that removed Özgür Özel from the CHP chairmanship, calling the preceding day's riot-police storming of CHP headquarters 'a disgrace to democracy.' DEM Party co-chairs warned that the crackdown on the main secular opposition raised serious concerns about prospects for the ongoing Kurdish peace process — suggesting political repression could undermine trust in the government's reform commitments. TIME magazine published a major analysis titled 'What to Know About Türkiye's Deepening Democratic Crisis,' marking the moment the crisis broke through internationally. The CHP HQ police raid on May 24 — in which riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to eject Özel and supporters who refused to vacate the party building after the court reinstated Kılıçdaroğlu — became the defining image of the week. Pro-opposition outlet Halk TV broadcast footage showing police firing teargas and rubber bullets inside the CHP Ankara headquarters, images that circulated globally.