Turkey’s Probe of Opposition-Run Municipalities Results in 13 Arrests
Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained 13 people in a corruption probe regarding concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in what marks the latest legal move targeting municipalities under the control of Turkey’s main opposition party, the Associated Press reported.
The Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office said the suspects are charged with abuse of public office and rigging of public tenders. Among them are former municipal employees and owners of private event companies.
The investigation surrounds 32 concerts held between 2021 and 2024, which reportedly led to the municipality losing $3.7 million, the statement said.
Municipalities governed by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) have faced several corruption investigations this year. In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, considered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main rival, was arrested on corruption charges, a move that sparked widespread protests.
The CHP has rejected all accusations, saying the legal actions are a politically motivated attempt by Erdoğan to weaken the opposition. Meanwhile, the government says the judiciary is independent and the investigations only aim to target corruption.
The CHP secured decisive victories in last year’s local elections, winning major cities it already held, such as Istanbul and Ankara, but also advancing in regions usually dominated by Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
An Ankara court is scheduled to rule next month over whether to annul the 2023 congress of the CHP, in which Özgür Özel, considered Erdoğan’s next biggest rival, was elected chairman over alleged irregularities, according to Al-Monitor.
On Sunday, the CHP re-elected Özel as leader during an extraordinary congress held in a bid to protect him and other party leaders from the ruling that could order their ouster. By securing a fresh mandate – with all 835 votes in favor – CHP officials hope to minimize the chances that the upcoming ruling could oust Özel.
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