Turkish opposition leader Özel condemns Üsküdar council vote shifting power to AKP

Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has escalated his criticism of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the transfer of municipal leadership in Istanbul's Üsküdar district. Speaking at a public rally in Üsküdar and on Koza TV, Özel described the local council vote that installed an AKP acting mayor as a violation of democratic norms and voter choice.

Özel directly challenged President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, questioning his democratic credentials after control of the district shifted despite CHP's local election victory. Furthermore, Özel addressed the recent meeting between Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş and President Erdoğan, emphasizing that the talks focused exclusively on overcoming administrative obstacles to public services in Ankara.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet