Turkey's opposition leader Özel criticises AKP over Üsküdar council vote
Turkish opposition leader Özgür Özel criticized the AKP after a council vote awarded Üsküdar's deputy mayoralty to the ruling party, while clarifying Mayor Yavaş's meeting with President Erdoğan.
Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has condemned the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) after a local council vote transferred the deputy mayoralty of Istanbul's Üsküdar district to the AKP.
Speaking at a public gathering in Üsküdar and during a television appearance, Özel characterized the voting process as one of the darkest and most compromised moments in Turkish political history regarding elections. Addressing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel questioned the democratic standards applied to a district won by the CHP in municipal elections.
Additionally, Özel addressed a recent meeting between Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş and President Erdoğan. He explained that the discussions focused on resolving administrative hurdles hindering municipal governance in the capital rather than political negotiations.
Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet
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Earlier coverage
- Nov 2, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader condemns AKP following Üsküdar council vote
- Nov 2, 2026, 03:30 AM UTCTurkey's opposition leader denounces AKP over Üsküdar council vote
- Nov 1, 2026, 09:30 PM UTCTurkey's opposition leader Özel condemns council vote transferring Üsküdar mayoralty to AKP
- Nov 1, 2026, 03:30 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel criticizes AKP over Üsküdar mayoral vote
- Nov 1, 2026, 09:30 AM UTCTurkey's opposition leader denounces council vote transferring Üsküdar leadership to AKP
- Nov 1, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel criticises AKP takeover of Üsküdar district
- Oct 31, 2026, 09:30 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader criticises AKP over Üsküdar municipal shift
- Oct 31, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel condemns Üsküdar council vote shifting power to AKP
- Oct 31, 2026, 09:30 AM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel condemns AKP over Üsküdar leadership shift
- Oct 31, 2026, 02:30 AM UTCCHP leader Özel criticises AKP municipal leadership shift in Üsküdar