Turkish Opposition Claims “Dirty Operation” as 4 Lawmakers Defect, 2 Held in Custody Ahead of Leadership Vote

Turkish Opposition Claims “Dirty Operation” as 4 Lawmakers Defect, 2 Held in Custody Ahead of Leadership Vote

Turkish opposition leaders are crying foul after four municipal council members switched parties and a leadership vote was scheduled while two other members remain in police custody, calling it a pre-planned maneuver to rig local governance.

· 1 min read ·
turkeyeuropeelections

Istanbul – The Republican People's Party (CHP) has accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of engineering a “timed, dirty operation” in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul, according to a statement made on Wednesday [235418].

Speaking outside the Üsküdar municipal building, provincial party chair Özgür Çelik condemned the transfer of four assembly members to the AKP, the detention of council members, and the decision to set a date for electing a new deputy mayor while two members remain under arrest [235418].

“This is a pre-planned, filthy maneuver,” Çelik said, though he did not provide specific details on the charges or the timing of the detentions [235418].

A party official identified only as Dedetaş separately called for “respect for the voters’ will,” urging authorities to postpone any vote until all council members can participate freely [235418].

The allegations come amid a broader pattern of political pressure in Turkey. A senior Istanbul municipal official, Ramazan Gülten, who is currently in detention, has spoken out about his experience, saying he and others are being questioned throughout the night [231683]. In a letter, Gülten described his time in prison as marked by both resistance and hope, recalling a famous poem by Turkish poet Nazım Hikmet to frame his current state of mind [231683].

The AKP has not yet responded to the allegations regarding the Üsküdar vote [235418]. Local elections in Turkey are closely watched, and party-switching by municipal legislators is a sensitive issue that often sparks accusations of political pressure [235418].

Sources

Turkish Opposition Calls ‘Dirty Operation’ as 2 Lawmakers Held During Vote #235418Detained Istanbul Official: We Are Being Tried Until Dawn #231683

Related

Istanbul Mayor Jailed for Up to 12 Years as Opposition Fights Back

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been jailed pending trial on charges of fraud and organized crime, a case that could keep him behind bars for 12 years and threatens to derail his 2028 presidential bid. [196163] The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is now battling on multiple fronts, with 833 delegates demanding an extraordinary congress to restore internal democracy and party leaders accusing the government of targeting opposition-run cities. [196129][196154]

Turkey’s Opposition Rises as Mass Arrests of Miners’ Union Leaders Spark Rare Unity

Turkey’s main opposition parties and human rights groups have united in outrage after the arrest of a senior mining union leader and a labor organizing expert, accusing the government of a politically motivated crackdown on workers’ rights.

Osun Election in Chaos: 10,210 Cops Deployed as Watchdog Warns of Killings and Vote Buying

Nigeria’s Osun State governorship election is facing a credibility crisis, with a civil society watchdog warning of killings and vote buying just days before the vote, even as authorities deploy over 10,000 security personnel to maintain order.

Turkey Suspends Silivri Mayor After Arrest, 10 Detained in Crackdown on Opposition Municipality

Turkish authorities have suspended the mayor of Silivri, a district west of Istanbul, after his arrest, while 10 people including the mayor were formally detained in a separate operation targeting an opposition-run municipality.

Turkey Cracks Down: 225 Arrested Before NATO Summit as Opposition Fights ‘Occupation’

Turkey has arrested 225 people, including activists, journalists, and environmentalists, ahead of a major NATO summit in Ankara, sparking a fierce backlash from the opposition, who vow to resist what they call an "occupation" of their party and the country’s democratic space.

Turkey's Opposition CHP Blocks Peace Efforts, Says Politician as Police Raids Escalate

A Turkish politician says peace efforts with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan are being blocked by operations from the main opposition CHP, as police raids on CHP offices intensify and experts criticize the pro-Kurdish DEM Party for failing to explain the peace process to the public.