WITH VOTES SLIPPING, ERDOĞAN TURNS TO PENSIONERS EARLY
Losing votes over the fund scandal and shaken almost daily as new figures with party links are exposed, the AKP government launched its election campaign early.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
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JOURNALISTS MARCH IN TURKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER 15 YEARS
On Oct. 24, journalists marched simultaneously in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Eskişehir, Antalya, Adana, Kocaeli, Diyarbakır and Van, answering a call from press unions and professional organizations including the Diplomatic Correspondents Association under the slogan “No to censorship, freedom for news.”
FUND PAYOUTS BEGIN AS ERDOĞAN AWAITS AUDIT REPORT
Sweeping reforms to capital markets institutions will hinge on a State Audit Council (DDK) report on the multi-billion-dollar investment fund scandal, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan awaiting its findings before taking action.
THE WEIGHT OF SOVEREIGNTY
On Jan. 20, 1921, as the War of Independence was still being fought, the Grand National Assembly adopted a Constitution whose first article began: Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation (Hâkimiyet bilâ kaydü şart milletindir). On Oct. 29, 1923, the assembly added another sentence to that same article: The form of government of the Turkish state is the Republic (Türkiye Devletinin şekl-i hükûmeti Cumhuriyettir).
ALIYEV DOUBLES DOWN AS ANKARA REMAINS OVERLY CONCILIATORY
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, declined President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s invitation to attend the summit of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled for the day after Turkey’s Republic Day, marking one of the biggest crises in the two countries' close relationship. Despite Ankara’s visible steps to defuse the recent tension, his refusal to come on a date carrying symbolic importance for Turkey attests to the changing dynamics in the relationship since the military victory over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020.
HOMELESS MAN INTENTIONALLY INSULTS ERDOĞAN TO GET SHELTER IN PRISON
To get off the streets in the winter time and have access to food, a homeless man in the Mediterranean resort Alanya insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since he had nowhere to live. The court sent him to prison as he wanted, reportedly not for the first time, while thousands of people try to escape from similar legal cases.
JOURNALISTS TAKE TO THE STREETS AS CRACKDOWN CONTINUES FULL-FLEDGED ON MEDIA
Journalists will take to the streets on Oct. 24 to urge the government to end the detentions, arrests, blockages, access bans and all kinds of pressure on media members as the crackdown escalated after the liquidation of investment funds.
COP31 AND THE STORY OF TWO INVITATIONS
Next month Antalya hosts COP31, Nov. 9-20. Ankara has sent two invitations to Cyprus: one, through the conference organizers, to the president of the Republic of Cyprus, and one, from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
ERDOĞAN CALLS ALIYEV TO EASE TENSIONS AS BAKU BARS 31 TURKS
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an effort to defuse a sharpening diplomatic rift between the historic allies, even as Baku escalated its stance by barring dozens of Turkish figures and initiating criminal proceedings against online critics.
EX-AMBASSADOR RETURNS TO AKP
Bursa lawmaker Cemalettin Kani Torun, who left the Yeni Yol Party group of conservative opposition lawmakers in August soon after the Gelecek Party dissolved itself, joined the AKP and will be an adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the Terror-Free Turkey process and on Africa policy.
İMAMOĞLU: “IF YOUR RIVALS ARE IN PRISON, YOU CANNOT BE LEGITIMATE”
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu completed his four-day defense in the second session of his trial, directly targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in testimony after more than 600 days behind bars.
ERDOĞAN’S ADVISER SIGNALS MARCH OR APRIL 2028 FOR ELECTIONS
Presidential Chief Legal Advisor Mehmet Uçum once again said that the next presidential election is set for March or April 2028, coinciding with renewed efforts to draft a new constitution.