Turkish opposition leader Özel condemns AKP takeover of Üsküdar leadership
Turkish opposition leader Özgür Özel criticized the ruling party's gain of Üsküdar's leadership and defended Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş's meeting with President Erdoğan.
Main Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has condemned the outcome of a municipal vote that transferred local leadership in Istanbul's Üsküdar district to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Speaking at a public gathering in Üsküdar and during a television broadcast, Özel characterized the proceedings as a blow to democratic principles, directly challenging President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the fairness of the vote.
Özel also addressed a recent meeting between Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş and President Erdoğan, describing the encounter as routine consultation aimed at municipal administrative affairs rather than political compromise. The opposition leader emphasized that local administrative cooperation should not be interpreted as yielding to political pressure.
Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet
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Earlier coverage
- Oct 26, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCTurkish opposition leader condemns AKP municipal takeover in Istanbul's Üsküdar
- Oct 26, 2026, 09:00 AM UTCTurkish opposition leader Özel condemns AKP takeover in Üsküdar
- 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