Turkey's opposition leader Özel slams AKP municipal takeover in Üsküdar

Republican People's Party leader Özgür Özel has sharply criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the transfer of administrative control in Istanbul's Üsküdar district to the ruling Justice and Development Party.

Speaking at a public rally in Üsküdar Square and during a television broadcast, Özel characterized the recent municipal council vote as one of the darkest and most tainted developments in Turkish political history. He directly challenged Erdoğan over democratic standards following the leadership shift.

Additionally, Özel clarified Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş's recent meeting with Erdoğan, stating the discussions focused exclusively on resolving municipal administrative bottlenecks in the capital rather than political negotiations.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet