On March 31, Türkiye will once again exercise its democratic right to vote in local government elections. Yet, this election transcends mere local political dynamics; it stands as a pivotal moment shaping the trajectory of Turkish politics at large. In the wake of the May 23 general elections, Türkiye’s political landscape is undergoing significant shifts,
We are heading towards one of the most unfair and unequal elections in our history on March 31st. Despite its being a local elections, its results will have profound effects on Turkish poltical landscape, especially in Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seems to have mobilized the entire state machinery to prevent the re-election of Istanbul’s
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan complained on March 24 that the participation to his “Great İstanbul Again” rally ahead of the March 31 local elections was less than the half of what he had expected. In fact, he should be grateful that hundreds and thousand of his supporters were there despite the disappointment of the ongoing
Ever since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched the election campaign with the motto “reconquering Istanbul,” it has been clear that the real competition in the upcoming March 31 local elections will be for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Now, with almost a week left until the election, this race is neck and neck. It is
Since the May 2023 election defeat, Türkiye’s main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has grappled with internal conflicts that have taken a toll on the party. However, in addition to this, an unprecedented situation has emerged in Turkish politics: the CHP, not President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), appears to
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Jan. 6 in Istanbul as a part of his week-long diplomatic tour amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The high-level meeting attended by Fidan, National Intelligence
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on January 3 that 56 suspects under Red Bulletin and Urgent Apprehension warrants by Interpol were captured in Türkiye in a massive police operation in 11 provinces. Yerlikaya said in his “X” message that the wanted people were citizens of the USA, Germany, Azerbaijan, UAE, Belarus, Morocco, Palestine, India,
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) changed its leader at a highly contested November 4 congress, and delegates elected young Parliamentary Group Chair Özgür Özel to replace Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who refused to resign despite his failure in the presidential and parliamentary elections that took place in May. The 49-year-old pharmacist challenged the 13-year-old Kılıçdaroğlu-chairmanship
The main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu announced that he will re-run for the mayoralty chair for the megacity in the 2024 local elections. “I am once again starting off to take Istanbul,” İmamoğlu said on August 15 at a press conference in Istanbul. “I am taking a risk;
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke harshly about the terror inspection initiated by the Interior Ministry against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, defining the inspection as “conspiracy.” Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group on Jan. 3, Kılıçdaroğlu said that if the government appoints a trustee, the main opposition will consider the situation
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