Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is facing intense judicial and police pressure following a controversial court decision that removed its existing İstanbul provincial leadership and appointed a new, court-approved board. Judicial Intervention in CHPOn September 3, an İstanbul court ordered the suspension of the CHP’s provincial board after allegations of procedural irregularities and vote buying during the party’s 2023 İstanbul congress. Police Blockade and Political TensionAfter the court order, police surrounded the CHP provincial headquarters in İstanbul, with entry and exit restricted and riot police deployed. Multiple CHP deputies, including Ali Mahir Başarır and Suat Özçağdaş, publicly condemned the blockade, accusing President Erdoğan’s government of weaponizing the judiciary against the party. Broader Judicial Pressure on CHPThis incident is part of a larger pattern of judicial pressure targeting CHP since early 2025, including corruption investigations into municipalities run by CHP.