UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES OVER ALTAY TANK MASS PRODUCTION
The setbacks and delays encountered in the Altay tank project, launched in 2007, have become a subject of political debate, while uncertainty remains over whether it will go into mass production.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
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.
CYPRUS: LEGENDARY DIVIDED ISLAND, COVETED BY MANY
Cyprus, the mythical land of Aphrodite, has long been in the headlines for one defining issue: its division. Since the 1960s, when Greek Cypriots pursued Enosis—union with Greece—the island has been riven by conflict. The Turkish military intervention of July 1974 cemented this division, leaving Northern Cyprus under Turkish protection and Southern Cyprus under Greek Cypriot control. For decades, this seemed to be the central challenge of the island: reunification, or lack thereof. But today, Cyprus is far more than just a frozen conflict—it is becoming one of the most militarized and geopolitically contested territories in the Eastern Mediterranean.
BAR ASSOCIATION CHAIR URGES RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTION AT PARLIAMENT COMMISSION
Turkey Bar Association (TBB) President Erinç Sağkan told parliament’s National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission that no political or legal issue in Turkey can be resolved without respect for the constitution.
THE LAST DANCE OF THE EFE IN HIGH HEELS
Özlem Çerçioğlu has been elected mayor of Aydın from the CHP for four consecutive terms. She also previously served two terms as a CHP lawmaker. Before delving into the political dimension, it’s worth examining the nickname she’s been given—“Topuklu Efe” (Efe in High Heels).
A NEW CHAPTER IN CAUCASUS - IF IT HOLDS
The Caucasus is undergoing a fundamental transformation that could reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape. After decades of failed attempts—such as the 2001 peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan or the 2009 Armenia–Turkey Zurich Protocols—Armenia and Azerbaijan have now initialed agreements that could pave the way for a historic breakthrough.
PERVİN BULDAN AND THE TWO Ks
The Kurdish political movement is a powerful women's movement as well. Within the movement, the female force is often described as “women’s revolution.” That’s why the “two Ks” in the title stand for Kurdish and Kadın (Woman). Pervin Buldan is one of the most prominent figures representing this female presence within the Kurdish political movement.
ULTRANATIONALIST RIFT OVER COMMISSION DEEPENS
A political feud has erupted between Turkey’s two largest ultranationalist parties—the MHP and its breakaway rival the İYİ Party—over the establishment of a parliamentary commission tasked with preparing for the potential disarmament of the PKK.
HOW WILL THE PKK’S DISARMAMENT SHAPE POLITICS?
The dissolution and disarmament of the PKK, so far managed through security institutions, will be brought to Parliament’s agenda next week through a newly established commission. Although framed as “above politics” and “beyond party interests,” the “process” is creating new political maneuvering room for all parties. From the government to the opposition, political actors are repositioning themselves and recalculating strategies with an eye on the 2028 elections.
CHP’S RELENTLESS RALLIES FAIL TO SWAY CORRUPTION PROBE
Since Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s detention on March 19, the CHP has held 40 rallies despite no upcoming elections, yet failed to shift the political agenda. The party opened İmamoğlu’s first campaign office in its Çankaya stronghold in Ankara, only to see its provincial chair dismissed days later. Though operations against Istanbul Municipality slowed, confessions from businessperson Aziz İhsan Aktaş continue to dominate headlines. A fresh wave of arrests targeted subsidiaries ISFALT and IETT, as well as tender officials.
SPEAKER MOVES TO FORM PEACE COMMISSION AS CRUCIAL TERMS STILL IN LIMBO
The Turkish Parliament Speaker has moved forward to form a long-anticipated commission as part of the government’s “Terror-Free Turkey” initiative, setting the number of members at 51 and requesting party nominations by July 31, following days of delay and political back-and-forth.
SÜREÇ
In the great Turkish game of semantics, few words do more political heavy lifting than süreç. Literally “process,” süreç is the bureaucrat’s fig leaf, the politician’s magic wand, and the journalist’s catch-all term when no one knows quite what to call a thing. It conjures movement without a very clear or declared direction, change without rupture, action without accountability. You don’t fail a süreç—you just manage it, drag it, or rebrand it.