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CHP SHADOW CABINET UNDER FIRE FOR MIRRORING AKP'S MODEL
Inside Turkey Dec 19, 2025

CHP SHADOW CABINET UNDER FIRE FOR MIRRORING AKP'S MODEL

The CHP has unveiled its new shadow cabinet, touting it as the team that would govern Turkey if elected. However, the lineup has sparked backlash from left-wing critics over the dominance of business figures and center-right politicians occupying key posts. Despite advocating a return to the parliamentary system — where the executive is known as the Council of Ministers and members are elected, not appointed — the CHP has mirrored the presidential model by labeling its team a “cabinet” and appointing shadow cabinet members who are business figures active in the very sectors they oversee.

Editorial Team
ÖZEL STEPS UP STREET RESISTANCE CALLS
Inside Turkey Dec 12, 2025

ÖZEL STEPS UP STREET RESISTANCE CALLS

CHP Chair Özgür Özel escalated his rhetoric, urging people to take to the streets in response to what he described as a diminishing role for Parliament. Addressing crowds at public rallies and budget debates in Parliament, Özel emphasized the historic weight of legislative authority. “The right to control the budget is humanity’s greatest democratic achievement. Parliament is not born of the budget — the budget is born of Parliament,” he said.

Editorial Team
KARAHAN: INFLATION IS LIKE A VIRUS—ERADICATING IT TAKES TIME
Economy and Finance Nov 27, 2025

KARAHAN: INFLATION IS LIKE A VIRUS—ERADICATING IT TAKES TIME

Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan has likened inflation to a virus, saying it becomes harder to eliminate the longer it lingers in the economy. “We are applying the right prescription,” he said. “We’ve achieved positive results so far, and we have no doubts about our ultimate goal. But the effect of the prescription varies from case to case.”

Editorial Team
CYPRUS VOTE TRIGGERS NATIONALIST FURY IN TURKEY
Foreign Affairs Oct 24, 2025

CYPRUS VOTE TRIGGERS NATIONALIST FURY IN TURKEY

Recent election results in Northern Cyprus have stirred visible unease within Turkey’s ruling alliance, particularly in the far-right MHP, even as the AKP maintained a controlled response, delivering expected statements despite its apparent preferences.

Editorial Team
COMMITTEE GETS CLOSER TO END LISTENING
Inside Turkey Oct 3, 2025

COMMITTEE GETS CLOSER TO END LISTENING

At the 13th meeting of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, lawyers were heard on Oct. 2 and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated that the listening phase is about to end. Although not announced officially, women’s and children’s rights defenders as well as the intelligence service are expected to be heard in the coming days, before concluding the listening phase.

Editorial Team
EYES ON ERDOĞAN’S MESSAGE, BAHÇELİ’S INITIATIVE AS NEW TERM BEGINS
Inside Turkey Sep 29, 2025

EYES ON ERDOĞAN’S MESSAGE, BAHÇELİ’S INITIATIVE AS NEW TERM BEGINS

As the Turkish Parliament begins its new legislative year on Oct. 1, attention will center on MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli—who launched the “Terror-Free Turkey” peace initiative a year ago—and on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks regarding its future. Following a 70-day recess, Parliament will convene with a special General Assembly session at 2:00 p.m. As usual, Erdoğan will deliver an opening address, though the CHP will boycott the ceremony in protest of recent mayoral arrests and crackdowns on municipalities. This year, the political spotlight will remain on post-PKK arrangements such as the “Return Home” law, the “right to hope,” and amendments to the penal code.

Editorial Team
COMMISSION SPLIT OVER RULE OF LAW
Inside Turkey Aug 28, 2025

COMMISSION SPLIT OVER RULE OF LAW

The parliamentary National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission held two tense meetings this week, first hearing from Turkey’s bar associations and then from former parliamentary speakers.The MPs on the commission, who had so far avoided direct confrontation, engaged in their first open war of words after bar leaders gave long speeches stressing constitutional rights and the rule of law.

Editorial Team
'BAHÇELİ SHOULD KEEP HIS PROMISE'
Inside Turkey Aug 8, 2025

'BAHÇELİ SHOULD KEEP HIS PROMISE'

Mustafa Karasu, a leading figure in the PKK, has said MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli should keep his promise regarding the “right to hope” for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Editorial Team