Turkish opposition leader Özel condemns AKP takeover in Üsküdar
Turkish opposition leader Özgür Özel criticized the AKP's municipal vote victory in Üsküdar and commented on Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş's meeting with President Erdoğan.
Main Turkish opposition leader Özgür Özel has denounced the political transfer of Istanbul's Üsküdar municipality to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) following a disputed council vote. Speaking at a public rally in Üsküdar's İskele Square and during a televised broadcast on Koza TV, Özel described the process as a dark stain on Turkey’s political history and directly questioned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's commitment to democratic principles. He underscored that opposition voters had lawfully won the district, previously regarded as an AKP bastion.
Separately, Özel addressed a recent meeting between Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş and President Erdoğan, framing the encounter as a standard administrative dialogue intended to maintain municipal public services without political interference.
Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet
Sources
Earlier coverage
- Oct 26, 2026, 02:30 AM UTCTurkish opposition leader slams Üsküdar municipal handover to ruling AKP
- Oct 25, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCÖzgür Özel condemns municipal power shift in Istanbul's Üsküdar district
- Oct 25, 2026, 02:30 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader condemns transfer of Üsküdar municipal control to AKP
- Oct 25, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCCHP leader Özel criticises Erdoğan over Istanbul's Üsküdar municipal vote
- Oct 25, 2026, 02:00 AM UTCÖzgür Özel challenges Erdoğan over transfer of Istanbul's Üsküdar district to AKP
- Oct 24, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel condemns AKP council maneuver in Istanbul's Üsküdar district
- Oct 24, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCTurkey's opposition leader Özel criticises AKP over Üsküdar municipal vote
- Oct 23, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader criticises AKP after Üsküdar municipal shift
- Oct 23, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCCHP leader Özel slams AKP over Istanbul's Üsküdar leadership shift
- Oct 23, 2026, 08:30 AM UTCÖzgür Özel criticizes AKP over Üsküdar municipal vote while defending Yavaş-Erdoğan talks