At least 50,000 people took part in a protest by Turkey's main opposition party (HKP) on Sunday ahead of a key court hearing that could topple the party's leadership, organizers and AFP correspondents said, dariknews.bg reported, citing BGNES.
Protesters filled the “Tandogan“ square in Ankara in a mass demonstration of defiance on the eve of the session in the Turkish capital.
CHP Vice President Murat Bakan said there were 50,000 people, and AFP correspondents confirmed that tens of thousands had gathered in the square, waving Turkish flags and wearing T-shirts with the image of the founder of the Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
In a speech, HDP leader Özgür Özel said the crowd had gathered to “oppose the (judicial) coup“ being waged against the party, referring to Monday's court hearing that could lead to his removal as leader.
“This government does not want democracy. They know they cannot win the election if there is democracy. They do not want justice: they know that if there is justice, they will not be able to cover up their crimes,“ he said.
“This case is political, the allegations are slander,“ he added. “This is a coup (and) we will resist.“
“We are facing the grave consequences of the Turkish government abandoning the “democracy train“ and chose to rule through repression, not through voting,” Özel told the crowd.
“Unfortunately, anyone who poses a democratic threat to the government is now becoming a target of the government.“
Monday’s hearing aims to overturn the results of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) congress in November 2023, on allegations of vote rigging. The congress elected Özel as its leader.
Critics say the case is a politically motivated attempt to undermine Turkey's oldest political party, which won a landslide victory over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party in local elections in 2024 and has shown a surge in opinion polls.
Addressing the Turkish leader, Özel said: "Erdogan, have you ever seen a 'Tandogan' Square like this?" as protesters chanted: "Erdogan, resign!"