Turkey’s main opposition party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), is facing a crackdown on its leaders and officials after three mayors were arrested in southern Turkey. The arrests, which include Adiyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere and Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, are the latest in a series of detentions aimed at neutralizing the opposition party.
The arrests come amid concerns that the government is trying to undermine the party’s chances in upcoming elections. In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was imprisoned on corruption allegations, sparking widespread protests and street demonstrations. The CHP leader, Ozgur Ozel, has accused the government of targeting its officials and intimidating voters.
The arrests are part of a broader investigation into alleged bribery and bid-rigging involving organized crime. The CHP mayors were accused of requesting unfair financial benefits from company executives doing business with their municipalities. The investigation was led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which also implicated 11 other people in the case.
The detentions have sparked widespread criticism from the opposition party and its supporters. “In a system where the law is bent and twisted according to politics, no one should expect us to trust the rule of law or believe in justice,” said CHP Chairman Ozel. The Justice Minister, Yilmaz Tunc, condemned the accusations as “irresponsible” but failed to address concerns about the government’s motives.
The arrests are a significant blow to the opposition party, which had made significant gains in local elections last year. Turkey’s next election is due in 2028, but could come sooner if the opposition party can capitalize on its momentum. The crackdown is also seen as an attempt by President Erdogan to consolidate his power and suppress dissent.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/chp-opposition-arrests-adiyaman-adana-tutdere-karalar-c401785ae68f56ebf137b93cd86cf237