Turkey is witnessing a growing legal crackdown on the country’s main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), with hundreds of members and municipal officials facing charges ranging from corruption to terrorism links and insulting public officials. So far, 14 mayors and numerous city workers have been detained or imprisoned, sparking nationwide controversy and condemnation.
What’s Happening?
Since late 2024, Turkish authorities have launched a sweeping investigation into the CHP, claiming it is part of a broader anti-corruption effort. However, opposition parties, human rights groups, and several international voices have criticized the crackdown as politically motivated and undemocratic. The government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, denies the accusations and maintains that the judiciary is functioning independently.
The situation escalated in March 2025 when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — Erdogan’s top political rival — was detained on corruption charges, triggering the largest public protests in Turkey in over a decade. Financial markets responded swiftly, with the Turkish lira falling sharply, prompting the central bank to reverse its recent interest rate cuts.
Despite no formal indictments, the CHP claims the charges are baseless and politically engineered.
Key Figures in Focus
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Ekrem Imamoglu
A popular centrist leader and two-term mayor of Istanbul, Imamoglu has consistently outperformed Erdogan in opinion polls. He won key elections in 2019 and 2024, marking historic defeats for the ruling AK Party (AKP). Despite being jailed, he remains the CHP’s presidential candidate for any upcoming election. -
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
In power for over two decades, Erdogan claims the probe is necessary to combat a “deep-rooted network of corruption.” With Turkey’s constitution limiting his terms, analysts believe this crackdown may help consolidate power in case Erdogan seeks to run for office again, possibly before the 2028 elections. -
Ozgur Ozel
The CHP’s current chairman, Ozel has been at the forefront of mass rallies following Imamoglu’s arrest. He labeled the crackdown a “civilian coup attempt” aimed at crushing political opposition. Ozel himself faces legal challenges that may result in his removal and annulment of the CHP’s 2023 party congress.
Timeline of the Crackdown
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October 31, 2024
The crackdown began with the jailing of Ahmet Ozer, the CHP mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district, over alleged ties to the outlawed PKK. -
January 2025
Authorities detained Riza Akpolat, mayor of Besiktas district, accusing him of participating in a tender-rigging ring involving bribery of public officials. -
March 18, 2025
Imamoglu’s university degree was suddenly annulled, a requirement for presidential candidacy. The next day, he and around 100 others were taken into custody. -
March 23–27, 2025
Protests spread nationwide. Nearly 1,900 people were detained during demonstrations. The government condemned calls for commercial boycotts, branding them as attempts at economic sabotage. -
April 30 – May 31, 2025
Courts ordered the jailing of 18 municipal officials on corruption charges. Another 47 individuals, including several CHP mayors, were targeted in separate investigations. -
July 1–5, 2025
The crackdown expanded to Izmir, where 157 people were detained in a major operation, including a CHP lawmaker and a former mayor. In Adana, Adiyaman, and Antalya, four more mayors were taken into custody, signaling a nationwide sweep against CHP leadership.
Political Impact & What’s Next?
The wide-ranging arrests come at a time when Erdogan’s political future is under intense debate due to constitutional term limits. With the CHP gaining major ground in recent elections, many view the crackdown as a strategy to dismantle the opposition’s rising influence before another presidential race.
The situation continues to develop, with eyes on upcoming court rulings and how the political landscape will shift in the months ahead.
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