The prosecutorial investigation in Turkey has entered a new phase regarding allegations of irregularities and interference in the voting at the 38th regular congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which resulted in the removal of its chairman, Özgür Özel, as Turkish authorities proceeded to arrest 13 suspects following coordinated operations in 7 provinces across the country.
The operation was carried out within the framework of the investigation conducted by the Turkish prosecutor’s office regarding allegations of interference in the electoral will of delegates during the 38th Regular Congress of the CHP, with operations centered in Istanbul and other Turkish cities.
Turkey: Simultaneous raids in multiple cities and 13 arrests
The Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with the Economic Crime Units of the Istanbul Police Directorate, conducted simultaneous raids this morning at designated addresses in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis and Malatya, proceeding to arrest 13 suspects.
The prosecutorial investigation is reported to have reached preliminary findings attributing a series of serious crimes to the suspects, which are connected to the party congress process and financial crimes.
What crimes the suspects allegedly committed
According to the case file, the suspects are alleged to have committed the crimes of “bribery”, “violation of the law on political parties” and “legitimizing income from illegal activities”.
During the raids, authorities conducted extensive searches of residences and premises connected to the suspects, collecting material expected to be examined within the judicial process.
Digital data, organizational documents and other evidence were seized during the searches, which were placed under examination by investigative authorities.
After their arrest, the 13 suspects underwent medical examinations and were then taken to Security, where interrogations and testimony procedures continue.
Harsh attack against the government and judiciary from Özgür Özel
CHP chairman Özgür Özel launched a harsh attack against the government and judiciary, speaking Friday evening at the second consecutive rally outside the party’s central offices in Ankara, following the judicial decision that removed him from CHP leadership.
Özel characterized the developments as a political attempt to interfere in the party, declared that the CHP would not accept “appointed solutions” and sent a message of political counter-attack, demanding both an intra-party congress and national elections.
Raising the stakes from the podium of the rally titled “We Support Our Party, Our Will”, Özel presented the matter not as an intra-party crisis, but as an issue of democracy and popular will, insisting that the CHP would not accept external interference in its operations.
“Appointed trustees cannot govern this party”
“The Republican People’s Party is the nation’s party. Appointed trustees cannot govern this party. We will not allow our party to be governed by AKP branches.”
“We will face difficulties but we will endure”
Meanwhile, he characterized current developments as a harbinger of political change, saying that “what is happening today are the birth pangs of tomorrow’s government” and added: “We will face difficulties, we will suffer, but we will endure. After 100 years we will again become the hope of this people and we will save them.”
The chairman of Turkey’s main opposition party attempted to give broader political dimension to the crisis, saying his party is being targeted because it wins elections and challenges the existing political system. “Our crime is that we win elections, that we choose the candidate who can win and that we challenge the establishment. That’s why this is not a CHP matter. It’s a matter of the nation, the people,” he insisted.
He also maintained that both Ekrem İmamoğlu and officials who, as he said, “will govern Turkey in the future” are in the government’s crosshairs.
“They targeted our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu and the officials who will govern Turkey in the future. They expected us to abandon them. We never left anyone behind and we will not leave anyone behind in the future either.”
In one of the most resonant interventions of his speech, Özel rejected any possibility of compromise, demanding acceleration of intra-party procedures, as well as recourse to national polls.
“I make no concessions”
“I make no concessions. We want a congress as soon as possible, we want ballot boxes. Atatürk’s party will go forward to the delegates’ ballot box and this people will go forward to the election ballot box. For these two, if necessary, I am ready to give my life,” he said characteristically, subsequently calling on citizens to remain active in mobilizations, leaving open even the possibility of more dynamic forms of pressure. “If boycotts are needed, if strikes are needed, if resistance to the end is needed,” he said.
Fierce criticism of Erdogan
Closing his speech outside CHP headquarters, Özel launched a personal attack against Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arguing that the government seeks to leave the opposition “without a leader, without a party and without choice”. “Don’t underestimate this people. Don’t say they are alone and weak. The day is coming when pawns become kings and those who trust in their power find themselves in checkmate.” Concluding, Özel issued a call for unity to those gathered, saying: “All my hope is in you. We will succeed. Those who believe, those who are right and those who fight, will win.”
