DISSENTING VOICES IN THE AKP
After the CHP pushed back against a wave of lawsuits aimed at annulling its 2023 congress, some AKP-affiliated pundits—occasionally critical of their own party’s leadership—called for an end to the judicial crackdown.
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AKP DISTRICT MAYOR REMOVED FROM OFFICE
Ahmet Sungur, the AKP mayor of Yahşihan in Kırıkkale, who was arrested on charges of extortion, has been removed from office.
COMMISSION DISCUSSES PUBLIC SUPPORT, PREPARES TO DRAFT PROPOSALS
The Parliament’s National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission listened to think-tankers and pollsters to test the ground for public support for the peace process. The 12th meeting of the commission established in the wake of PKK’s decision to disband and lay down arms took it to 50 days of work completed to date. The commission is now preparing to shift to drafting proposals in October.
RENEWED FOCUS ON YAVAŞ’S CANDIDACY AMID ATTACKS
The Ankara Municipality became the latest target of the crackdown against CHP-run municipalities, and CHP Chair Özgür Özel once again started highlighting Mayor Mansur Yavaş’s presidential candidacy. “Mansur Yavaş is seen as the strongest possible candidate if Ekrem İmamoğlu cannot run for presidency. Polls show he would beat (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan,” Özel said. “It is clear that Yavaş is also being targeted with the same intent.”
ELECTION BOARD STANDS FIRM, SAYS CONGRESS CANNOT BE HALTED
The High Election Council (YSK) reaffirmed its authority on Sept. 24, rejecting a civil court ruling that sought to halt the CHP’s Istanbul Provincial Congress just minutes before it began.In response to the 45th Civil Court of First Instance's last-minute suspension order, the YSK convened urgently and issued a clear statement: “A congress already in progress cannot be stopped.”
DISMISSAL SPREE IN ERDOĞAN’S AKP AS EIGHT PROVINCIAL CHAIRS REMOVED
In just three days, eight provincial heads from Turkey’s ruling AKP have been dismissed by party leadership — a sweeping move that underscores ongoing internal restructuring efforts.
RESIGNATION SPREE IN ERDOĞAN’S AKP AS SEVEN PROVINCIAL CHAIRS STEP DOWN
In just three days, seven provincial heads from Turkey’s ruling AKP have announced their resignations, each expressing loyalty to the party and its leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
MUCH-ANTICIPATED ERDOĞAN–TRUMP MEETING CONFIRMED
U.S. President Donald Trump will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House on Sept. 25, shortly after both leaders attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Their talks are expected to focus on defense and trade, including Boeing aircraft sales, a major F-16 package, and the potential revival of discussions on the suspended F-35 program.
THE SWORD AND AUDI OF ALİ ERBAŞ
Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Erbaş’s term has come to an end. He held the post for eight years. In other words, during the last eight years of the ruling party’s 23-year tenure, Turkey’s religious life was under Erbaş’s administration. Heads of the directorate, known as the Diyanet in Turkish, have always been subjects of debate, but Erbaş has been at the very peak of this controversy.
HOUSE ARREST FOR MEDIA EXECUTIVE AMID FRAUD AND LAUNDERING INVESTIGATION
After the seizure of Can Holding Media Group, one of Turkey’s largest conventional media conglomerates, Kenan Tekdağ, chair of the Board of Directors, was detained in hospital, then placed under house arrest and banned from leaving the country.
BILLIONAIRE-LED INVESTCO HOLDING SWEPT UP IN TURKISH STOCK MARKET PROBE
Turkish authorities have launched a probe into Investco Holding for allegedly laundering illicit gains obtained in violation of the Capital Markets Law through the stock exchange.
CENTRAL BANK CUTS CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES
The Central Bank reduced the calculation margins for credit card cash advances and overdraft account interest rates by 25 basis points.