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Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Türkiye’s main opposition, said recent operations linked to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality “concert” investigation were politically motivated, aiming to undermine Mayor Mansur Yavas and the CHP.
He noted that Yavas currently leads President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in polls, emphasizing, “If Ekrem Imamoglu is not or cannot be a presidential candidate, Yavas is the strongest alternative.”
Ozel said CHP is aware of the heavy politicization of legal proceedings, asserting the party possesses substantial evidence of judicial misconduct. “We submitted part of it to the Supreme Election Board (YSK). We are not waiting to be tried; we are waiting to hold accountable those who drafted the indictment,” he explained.
He also stressed that investigations in both Istanbul and Ankara are politically driven, rather than aimed at uncovering genuine wrongdoing. Previous audits by the Court of Accounts and internal inspectors had confirmed no irregularities among municipal employees.
Commenting on party polling, Ozel said recent surveys show CHP widening its lead over the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
“If people truly believed these processes were legal, the party would struggle. Citizens support CHP because they see the attacks as unfair. All polls confirm this trend,” he stated.
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