(Turkey, 6th) Turkish police have detained the mayors of three southern cities on suspicion of organized crime, bribery, and collusion in bidding.
According to Xinhua News Agency citing Turkish media reports, with arrest warrants issued by the Turkish prosecutor’s office, police on Saturday (July 5) detained Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Adiyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, and Antalya Mayor Muhittin Bocek, and searched their offices.
All three mayors are from Turkey’s largest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party. They have unanimously denied the charges, calling them political manipulation.
After the three were detained pending trial, Republican People’s Party Chairman Ozgur Ozel convened a party leadership meeting and subsequently called for early elections this November. Normally, Turkey’s next general election will be held in 2028.
Earlier, on Tuesday (the 1st), Turkish police arrested 102 people in the western port city of Izmir, including some Republican People’s Party members. According to Turkish television reports, the detainees are accused of manipulating public tenders and suspected fraud.
Radio France Internationale pointed out that the Republican People’s Party made significant gains over the ruling Justice and Development Party in last year’s Turkish local elections, and its support rate in recent polls continues to rise.
The Republican People’s Party’s Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested in March, sparking the largest wave of street protests in Turkey since 2013. He is President Erdogan’s biggest political rival and is the Republican People’s Party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election.
According to Xinhua News Agency citing Turkish media reports, with arrest warrants issued by the Turkish prosecutor’s office, police on Saturday (July 5) detained Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Adiyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, and Antalya Mayor Muhittin Bocek, and searched their offices.
All three mayors are from Turkey’s largest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party. They have unanimously denied the charges, calling them political manipulation.
After the three were detained pending trial, Republican People’s Party Chairman Ozgur Ozel convened a party leadership meeting and subsequently called for early elections this November. Normally, Turkey’s next general election will be held in 2028.
Earlier, on Tuesday (the 1st), Turkish police arrested 102 people in the western port city of Izmir, including some Republican People’s Party members. According to Turkish television reports, the detainees are accused of manipulating public tenders and suspected fraud.
Radio France Internationale pointed out that the Republican People’s Party made significant gains over the ruling Justice and Development Party in last year’s Turkish local elections, and its support rate in recent polls continues to rise.
The Republican People’s Party’s Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested in March, sparking the largest wave of street protests in Turkey since 2013. He is President Erdogan’s biggest political rival and is the Republican People’s Party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election.