The indictment titled “Ekrem İmamoğlu Profit-Driven Criminal Organization” prepared by Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek—released on 11 November—is poised to enter the history of political trials worldwide. Although part of the corruption allegations rely on witness statements filled with phrases like “it happened, I heard,” often supported only by secondary data such as mobile
The Ankara 42nd Civil Court of First Instance postponed the hearing in the case seeking to declare the 2023 Congress, where the Turkish main opposition CHP delegates elected Özgür Özel instead of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, “absolutely null and void” until October 24. It is reported that the judge wants to see the results of the
Among the political destruction scenarios discussed in Ankara, the most dangerous one for the future of Türkiye’s political life is as follows: • The precedent of dismissing the İstanbul Provincial Chairmanship is applied to the case for canceling the 2023 Congress of the main opposition CHP when delegates choose Özgür Özel to replace Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
The removal of CHP İstanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik and his administration from office by court order and the appointment of Gürsel Tekin, a former CHP Secretary General, as trustee not only disrupted the CHP but also stirred up politics and the relationship between politics and the judiciary. CHP leader Özgür Özel declared that they
The mayor of Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, Rıza Akpolat from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been arrested and suspended from his duties, marking a significant escalation in Türkiye’s political tensions. The Ministry of Interior announced Akpolat’s suspension from his position as a “temporary measure” following his arrest on charges of “membership in a criminal
In light of recent developments, the CHP Central Headquarters is running out of options: as consecutive lawsuits mount against its mayors, the party is force to spent all its energy on defending them. The latest example was the detention of İstanbul’s Beşiktaş district Mayor Rıza Akpolat on corruption charges. CHP’s pledge to take to the
When President Tayyip Erdoğan began reciting the opening verses of Surah Al-Fath in Arabic during his Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting on December 25, amid chants of “Conqueror of Syria,” I wrote in my notebook “We’re going into Syria.” However, launching an operation against the PKK/YPG in Syria is one thing; conquest
I wonder if it’s appropriate to describe the conspicuously close relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, as a “bromance.” This was on full display during the 953rd-anniversary celebrations of the Malazgirt Victory on August 26 in Ahlat, much to the chagrin of their opponents. Perhaps “strategic alliance” would be a
Devlet means state in Turkish and “Devlet (State) will come to the head of the state!” was one of the most striking slogans of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) before Devlet Bahçeli moved from the opposition ranks to the AKP government ranks via the People’s Alliance, supporting President Tayyip Erdoğan. It’s no longer used, but
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with his ruling partner Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader, Devlet Bahçeli, at the Presidential Complex on May 10, marking a significant encounter amidst ongoing political dialogues against the backdrop of calls for political ‘normalization’. The 1-hour meeting between Erdoğan and Bahçeli followed their last rendezvous on April 29. The last