Turkey's CHP leader condemns AKP takeover of Üsküdar district
Turkish opposition leader Özgür Özel criticized President Erdoğan after a council vote handed control of Istanbul's Üsküdar district back to the ruling AKP.
CHP leader Özgür Özel has strongly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following a municipal council vote that handed control of Istanbul's Üsküdar district to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Addressing a public rally at Üsküdar Square and speaking during a television interview, Özel described the political shift as one of the darkest and most tainted moments in Turkey's electoral history. He directly challenged Erdoğan’s commitment to democratic principles in a municipality where the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) secured victory during recent local elections.
Özel also addressed Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş's recent meeting with Erdoğan. The CHP leader explained that maintaining official communication between municipal administration and the presidency is essential to address civic needs, regardless of political rivalries.
Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet.
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Earlier coverage
- Oct 19, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCTurkey's opposition leader Özel slams AKP takeover of Üsküdar municipal council
- Oct 19, 2026, 01:30 AM UTCTurkey's Özel criticizes AKP over Üsküdar district vote shift
- Oct 18, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel condemns AKP power transfer in Üsküdar
- Oct 18, 2026, 02:30 PM UTCCHP's Özel condemns transfer of Üsküdar municipal control to ruling AKP
- Oct 18, 2026, 02:30 AM UTCTurkey's opposition leader Özel criticizes Üsküdar council vote handing district to AKP
- Oct 17, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader criticises AKP's municipal vote win in Istanbul's Üsküdar
- Oct 17, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCOpposition leader Özel condemns AKP takeover of Istanbul's Üsküdar district
- Oct 17, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCTurkish opposition leader sharply criticises AKP takeover in Istanbul's Üsküdar
- Oct 17, 2026, 02:30 AM UTCTurkey's main opposition leader condemns Üsküdar local election outcome
- Oct 16, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel condemns local council transfer in Üsküdar