Özel’s leadership, which began in November 2023, saw the CHP achieve significant electoral success against the ruling AKP in the March 2024 local elections. His ousting has been characterized by Özel as a ‘judicial coup,’ while the government claims judicial independence. The situation escalated over the Pentecost weekend, with police forcibly entering CHP headquarters to disperse supporters. Analysts, including Gönül Tol from the Middle East Institute, suggest that these developments reflect a systematic effort by President Erdogan to neutralize opposition ahead of the 2028 elections, amidst a politically favorable international context.