Erdoğan: ‘It’s not over until we say it’s over’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his first party speech in parliament on Wednesday (April 17) since Turkey’s local elections on March 31, which saw massive losses for his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in municipalities across the country. In his speech, he touched on the election results, arguing that his coalition had emerged from the elections […]
Mayoral certification crisis in Turkey sparks unprecedented dissent in ruling party
A mayoral certification crisis in Van province following the local elections sparked arguments among prominent figures within President Erdoğan’s AK Party. Presidential Advisor Mehmet Uçum defended the desertification process saying that it was a legal necessity, earning a harsh rebuttal by AKP MP Babuşçu. Following last Sunday’s local elections, opposition parties scored historic wins against […]
Van mayor-elect’s victory reinstated following controversial disqualification reversal
On Sunday’s local elections in Turkey, pro-Kurdish DEM Party candidate Abdullah Zeydan won mayorship in the eastern province of Van with 55.48% of the vote, besting second-place Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate Abdulahat Arvas, who finished with 27.15%. Zeydan’s victory, however, was invalidated when it emerged that on March 29, two days before the election was […]
Recounts continue after Turkey’s local election, as ruling party refuses to go quietly into the night
A recount is currently underway in Istanbul’s Gaziosmanpaşa and Beykoz districts, where the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) won Sunday’s local elections by a thin margin. In another close race in Kayseri’s Pınarbaşı district, CHP’s victory was overturned by Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK), with a rerun election scheduled for June 2. Istanbul – Gaziosmanpaşa In Gaziosmanpaşa’s close race, CHP […]
Turkey local elections: Turmoil in former opposition partner following crushing defeat
After the local elections on Sunday (March 31st), the primary opposition party CHP secured the majority of votes, while its previous coalition ally, the İYİ Party, managed to obtain only 3.7%. With the decision of the party leader Meral Akşener to dissolve the coalition, the İYİ Party could only secure 23 districts and a single […]
Historic local elections in Turkey as opposition deals unprecedented blow to Erdoğan
Turkey’s main opposition party has achieved a historic victory against the nation’s 22-year ruling party as well as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In a stunning turn of events, the opposition secured the majority of votes nationwide for the first time since 1977, prompting the two-decade de-facto ruler of Turkey to deliver his first-ever concession speech. […]
Turkey: Former chief partner of main opposition party rejects collaboration effort
The main opposition party, CHP, and its chief coalition partner in this year’s general election, İYİ Party, voted on an offer to collaborate in the upcoming local elections during their General Administrative Board meeting. Once a crucial part of CHP’s coalition against the Erdoğan government, İYİ Party rejected the electoral coalition offer through a majority […]
Key opposition coalition partner indicates electoral alliance will not reunite heading into 2024 local elections
Meral Akşener, leader of the conservative-nationalist İYİ Party, made a major speech on Saturday (August 26) in which she lamented the opposition’s loss in Turkey’s general elections in May. The speech followed an extended period of silence from Akşener in the post-election period, during which Turkey’s political discourse has been dominated by various voices attempting […]
Jailed politician Selahattin Demirtaş leaves politics after scathing letter to his party
Former HDP Co-chair and current political prisoner as defined by the ECHR, released a scathing open letter from Edirne High-Security Prison, hours before he announced that he would leave his political life behind. Demiratş has been imprisoned since 2016 despite an order from the ECHR for his release. In his letter, Demiratş criticized the HDP’s […]
What happened in Turkey’s election and what is next?
The first round of Turkey’s presidential election has come and gone, and the country is now four days into an intense 14-day stretch of campaigning before the runoff round on May 28. In Sunday’s contest, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan narrowly missed a first round victory with 49.25% of the vote. He was trailed by […]
Erdoğan provides update following concerns over health
After falling ill during a live broadcast on Tuesday evening (April 25), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration has provided several updates regarding the president’s health following two days of cancelled events. Saying that the president had suffered from a common cold, the updates from Erdoğan’s communication office sought to quiet rumors that he had […]
In message to young voters, opposition presidential candidate openly discusses religious identity for the first time
Main opposition leader and presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçldaroğlu released a video on Wednesday evening (April 19) that addressed young Turkish voters and discussed his identity as a member of Turkey’s Alevi religious minority group. Alevis are estimated to make up some 10-20% of Turkey’s population, and while Kılıçdaroğlu’s Alevi identity is widely known, the opposition leader has […]
