Ankara | July 8
The Republican People’s Party (CHP) will press on with its weekly rallies in protest of what it describes as an “aggressive crackdown” on its mayors, party leader Özgür Özel said Monday, reiterating his call for early elections in November.
Özel made the remarks during his weekly address to the CHP parliamentary group, denouncing the recent detentions of several CHP mayors and calling for their release pending trial.
“We will not stop until the AKP’s aggression on the CHP ends and our mayors be released pending trial,” he said.
Key Points:
- Özel criticized the March 19 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, describing it as a “coup against the future of this country.”
- Mayors of Antalya (Muhittin Böcek), Adana (Zeydan Karalar), and Adıyaman (Abdurrahman Tutdere) were recently detained over corruption allegations.
- Özel claimed the arrests were politically motivated and targeted the CHP’s rising influence in local governance.
- Responding to criticism from government circles, he said, “What we demand is not to stage a coup but to use our right to protest.”
- A summary of proceedings seeking the removal of Özel’s parliamentary immunity was submitted to parliament the same day, following a prosecutor’s investigation over alleged insults to the president.
Background:
The CHP has intensified its political campaign following the detentions, organizing rallies across Istanbul and other provinces. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has defended the legal actions as part of ongoing anti-corruption efforts, while the CHP accuses the government of using the judiciary to suppress opposition voices ahead of potential early elections.