Politics
Turkish lawmakers vote for new Parliament speaker
Some 600 Turkish lawmakers are set to elect a new Parliament speaker in a vote scheduled to start at 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
The elected speaker will serve for a term of three years unless a snap vote is called.
Candidates from five political parties with groups in Parliament are competing in polls, which will also see Parliament’s executive board renewed.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has nominated incumbent Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. The party’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), does not have a candidate and is expected to endorse Kurtulmuş.
Kurtulmuş, whose current term expires on Saturday, is expected to be reelected as Parliament speaker in the third round with the votes of at least the AK Party and MHP, which combined hold 320 seats at Parliament.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is running with its lawmaker from eastern Artvin province, Uğur Bayraktutan, while Parliament’s third-largest Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has named their Diyarbakır representative Cengiz Çandar for the post.
The smaller opposition parties have also nominated their own candidates, with the nationalist Good Party (IP) naming Istanbul MP Cihan Paçacı and the New Road Group, which features the Felicity Party (SP), Future Party (GP) and Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), naming SP’s Samsun MP Mehmet Karaman.
Constitutional provisions and internal regulations stipulate that the Parliament speaker is elected by a secret ballot of the lawmakers.
The winning candidate must secure two-thirds, i.e., 400, of the vote. If no candidate achieves the majority in the first two rounds, a simple majority of the total number of MPs, meaning 301, will be sought in the third round.
If the third round, too, yields no absolute majority, the two candidates who receive the most votes will compete in a fourth round, and the winner will be elected speaker.
The CHP holds 135 seats and the DEM Party has 56, while the Good Party and the New Road Party reserve 29 and 23, respectively.
Following the election, the members of Parliament’s executive council, which are determined by the political parties, will also be renewed.
The DEM Party has nominated its Van MP, Pervin Buldan, to replace Deputy Parliament Speaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who passed away on May 3.
Buldan served in the party’s delegation for the terror-free Türkiye initiative alongside Önder and conveyed messages to and from the terrorist group PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan. The terror-free initiative, launched by MHP leader Devlet Bahceli last year, culminated in a landmark decision by the terrorist group to disband and end its four-decade terror campaign in Türkiye.
President and AK Party Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan phoned Buldan and congratulated her on her nomination, Turkish media said.
The CHP nominated Ankara MP Tekin Bingöl as its candidate for the position of deputy Parliament speaker, replacing Denizli MP Gülizar Biçer Karaca.
The AK Party and MHP did not make any changes in their deputy Parliament speakers.
The decision by the PKK terrorist group to dissolve and lay down arms must be “observed in action on the ground” and not merely treated as a declaration, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said on Tuesday.
Speaking in a televised interview with TV100, Yılmaz warned that although the current process offers a significant opportunity for peace, it is vulnerable to sabotage and must proceed swiftly but cautiously.
“We need to see this decision reflected in reality. Our institutions will follow and monitor it closely,” Yılmaz said. “Giving a definitive timeline is not easy in such matters. It must happen as soon as possible.”
Türkiye has been battling the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union – for four decades. Following intensified security operations in recent years, Ankara sees the current moment as a turning point.
The initiative for a terror-free Türkiye was launched by government ally Devlet Bahçeli, head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who called on the PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan to appeal to the PKK to lay down arms last year.
Soon, his call evolved into a new initiative that saw People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmakers visiting Öcalan in the island prison where he is incarcerated in the Marmara Sea. As a result and in a landmark development, the PKK last month announced its dissolution and the end of its four-decade terror campaign that cost tens of thousands of lives in Türkiye, as well as in Iraq and Syria.
Yılmaz underlined that any delay or ambiguity could invite provocations from actors interested in sustaining instability. “There will always be those who want to sabotage peace,” he said. “That’s why this process must be completed in the shortest time possible.”
Israeli attack on aid ship
The vice president also condemned Israel’s recent attack on the Madleen, a humanitarian aid ship heading to Gaza, calling it “another addition to a long list of crimes.” He criticized the Netanyahu administration for pursuing what he termed a “genocidal policy” against Palestinians.
“This was an entirely illegal intervention. Israel must end its inhumane policies. A cease-fire must be reached immediately, and humanitarian aid should flow to Gaza without interruption,” Yılmaz urged.
He reiterated Türkiye’s call for a two-state solution under United Nation resolutions, stating that permanent peace in the region can only be achieved through justice and international consensus.
When asked about claims that Türkiye maintains trade ties with Israel, Yılmaz pointed to the country’s humanitarian leadership. “Let them ask the Palestinians: who has stood by them the most? Which country, which leader has done the most for them? The answer will be clear,” he said.
New constitution
Shifting to domestic politics, Yılmaz stressed the urgent need for a new, civilian constitution to replace the current charter, which was drafted following the 1980 military coup. He called it a “shame of the coup era” and emphasized that it no longer reflects the democratic aspirations of modern Türkiye.
“This is not just an issue for one party but for all political actors. Türkiye deserves a libertarian and civilian constitution in its second century,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has established an 11-member commission within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to begin drafting proposals. Yılmaz emphasized that this process should incorporate perspectives from all parties and civil society, stating: “This should be a product of collective wisdom and conscience.”
He also pushed back against opposition attempts to politicize the process, saying, “Those who try to derail this with excuses are doing a disservice to Türkiye. We must not let narrow political debates sabotage constitutional reform.”
Erdoğan’s government has been pushing to overhaul Türkiye’s Constitution for over a decade now, which was enforced in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.
He said the new constitution would promote high-standard democracy, guarantee freedoms and the rule of law.
CHP corruption probes
Asked about the recent corruption investigations into municipalities led by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), including İstanbul and Adana, Yılmaz emphasized that the operations are legal in nature and not politically motivated.
“This is a corruption probe, plain and simple. The judiciary will decide the outcome, and we will all see it together,” he said. “No one in this country has the freedom to commit crimes. Your title or political position does not grant you immunity.”
The investigations began with charges involving Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and later expanded to CHP-led districts. The opposition has claimed that these probes are politically driven, particularly after İmamoğlu’s increasing national profile and perceived presidential ambitions.
Yılmaz dismissed those claims, noting that İmamoğlu began positioning himself as a presidential candidate even though elections are not scheduled until 2028.
“Why did he begin a nationwide campaign without an election on the horizon? Was it to claim persecution in case of legal scrutiny?” Yılmaz asked. “That’s the question we should be asking. Whether he is guilty or innocent is up to the judiciary – not the political arena.”
He reminded critics that while judicial rulings can be criticized, no one has the right to “threaten or delegitimize” the judiciary. “There is no freedom to insult the courts,” he said firmly.
Responding to ongoing legal disputes within the CHP over its recent leadership congress, Yılmaz framed the issue as an internal party matter that must be resolved through legal and institutional channels.
“This is an issue within the CHP,” he said. “Ultimately, the courts will decide what’s legal and what isn’t. That is their job.”
While CHP leader Özgür Özel has portrayed the internal debate as a threat to the party’s stability, Yılmaz dismissed such alarmism. “This is not the end of the world. The current leadership will remain, or a temporary administration will be formed. This is not an existential crisis,” he said.
But he cautioned the opposition against amplifying its internal strife in the public sphere. “CHP must not allow its internal struggles to spill over into society. It only creates further polarization,” Yılmaz warned.
Following the suspension of Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe amid a corruption probe, the municipal council has elected the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) Eray Karadeniz as acting mayor in a decisive third-round vote.
The council convened under the leadership of First Deputy Chair Erdoğan Yıldırım Özçelik after Bahçetepe, detained as part of an investigation into the Aziz Ihsan Aktaş criminal network, was formally removed from office by the Interior Ministry. The AK Party nominated Karadeniz, the party’s current group deputy chair on the council, while the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) put forward Murat Topaloğlu as its candidate.
Neither candidate secured an absolute majority in the first two rounds. In the third and final round, Karadeniz was elected with 21 votes, defeating Topaloğlu, who received 16. Following the result, CHP council members left the hall in protest, chanting slogans and striking desks.
In his first remarks as acting mayor, Karadeniz emphasized his deep ties to the district: “Serving Gaziosmanpaşa, whose 16 neighborhoods I know intimately, is a profound responsibility and an immense honor,” he said. He pledged to fulfill his role with dedication, stating, “No one should doubt that I will live up to this responsibility in line with our belief that ‘those who serve earn honor.’”
Karadeniz also extended his condolences to the family of Manisa Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who died recently after a tragic electrical accident at his home.
The council meeting drew high-level observers, including AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chair Abdullah Özdemir and CHP Istanbul Chair Özgür Çelik. Security forces were deployed around the municipal building throughout the session.
Moreover, elections took place for the Avcılar and Büyükçekmece districts.
Born in Istanbul in 1986, Karadeniz holds degrees from Istanbul Commerce University’s Faculty of Law and Anadolu University’s Business Administration Department. He has held numerous leadership roles within AK Party’s youth branches, including as head of Gaziosmanpaşa’s youth wing between 2009 and 2018.
He also served as a political adviser in the 2019 local elections and was program director at the Gaziosmanpaşa Election Coordination Center in the 2023 general elections. In addition, he led several EU-funded youth initiatives.
Karadeniz now assumes interim leadership in a district at the center of one of Istanbul’s most high-profile corruption investigations.
In the first wave of 2025 operations against municipalities, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and 105 others were detained on March 19 and remain incarcerated in pretrial detention. The CHP has nominated Imamoğlu as its candidate in presidential elections due in 2028, but whether he can run depends on the fate of numerous trials and probes.
Türkiye on Tuesday hit back at allegations that a Liberian-flagged container ship that docked at its southern Mersin Port, was carrying steel for Israel’s military industry.
“The loading manifest and customs records of the ship that arrived from Spain, docked at Mersin Port at 2 pm (1100 GMT) on June 9, 2025, and the unloading procedures of which began at 3:25 pm (1225 GMT), have been meticulously examined.
“No steel or military-purpose items registered under the name of Israel Military Industries (IMI) or any similar institution were detected on the ship,” Türkiye’s Center for Combating Disinformation said on X.
A total of 461 containers were unloaded at Mersin Port from the ship, the center said, adding it was reported that 220 of these containers were empty, while 241 were loaded.
It has been confirmed that the loaded containers do not contain any steel or materials that could be used for military purposes, it added.
Besides, it was determined that 1,570 of the containers on board were transit cargo destined for other countries, while 33 loaded containers-whose inspections had been completed-originated from Türkiye and were bound for Palestine, primarily containing food supplies, the center noted.
Turkish ports handle tens of thousands of international cargo ships each year, processing about 8 million containers in full compliance with international rules and with complete transparency, the center said, adding: “Türkiye completely suspended all trade relations with Israel as of May 2, 2024.
“Since that date, Türkiye’s customs system has been closed to all foreign trade transactions involving Israel. No commercial activity linked to Israel is permitted in free zones or ports.”
Türkiye is among the first countries to take the clearest and most principled stance against Israel’s unlawful attacks in Gaza,” it highlighted.
The center also called for not giving credence to “the unfounded allegations.”
On May 2, 2024, Türkiye suspended all export and import operations with Israel due to its “aggression against Palestine in violation of international law and human rights,” according to the Trade Ministry.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has disclosed the findings of an expert report on the tragic death of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who was electrocuted at his residence. The report, prepared by a panel of electrical and mechanical engineers, reveals serious safety lapses that led to the incident.
In a statement on social media, Tunç confirmed that the Manisa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is conducting a thorough investigation into the fatal accident. He said that one deputy chief prosecutor and two prosecutors have been assigned to the case, 12 individuals have been questioned and two remain in custody.
“The report prepared by the team of electrical and mechanical engineers revealed that the pool pump motor was faulty; the building lacked a residual-current device (RCD) at its main entrance; all metal equipment showed signs of corrosion; there was moisture and water at cable connections; and the RCD in the pool’s power room was itself corroded and malfunctioning. Additionally, the distance between the pool energy room and the pool did not meet international safety standards.”
The incident has sparked concerns over residential safety standards and oversight, particularly in facilities with electrical installations near water sources.
He added that the investigation is being carried out comprehensively based on these technical findings.
Tunç extended his condolences to Zeyrek’s family and loved ones, saying, “May Allah have mercy on him.”
Zeyrek’s funeral was held in Manisa on Tuesday with a broad participation of the political circle.
Zeyrek, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), had earned wide support from Manisa residents in the March 31 local elections, in which he became the first CHP mayor of the city in decades.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a message of condolence following the news of Zeyrek’s death. In a post on social media, Erdoğan said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Ferdi Zeyrek as a result of a tragic accident. I extend my condolences to his family, colleagues, the citizens of Manisa and the entire CHP organization.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is set to turn introspective and tackle problems in the field across Türkiye in an annual camp scheduled for later this month, party sources said Monday.
From June 23 to 25, AK Party lawmakers and provincial chairs will convene at the party headquarters in the capital Ankara, and discuss solutions to various problems encountered by AK Party officials at district levels. The camp will also draw up a roadmap and other suggestions to better convey the party’s operations and achievements directly to the public.
A second camp is slated from July 11 to 13, which will assemble lawmakers and headquarter executives of the AK Party, as well as the party chair, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The July meeting is mainly focused on the recent developments in the terror-free Türkiye initiative, sources said, as well as citizens’ expectations about the process.
The initiative, launched last year by Erdoğan’s ally Devlet Bahçeli, aims to end four decades of PKK terrorism in Türkiye after the organization declared in a landmark decision last month to disarm and disband itself.
The PKK’s bloody terror campaign, which exploited the Kurdish community under the pretext of fighting for their rights, a self-styled Kurdish state in southeast Türkiye, has claimed at least 40,000 lives since the 1980s.
After years of military operations to eradicate the group, Türkiye initiated a “reconciliation process” previously in 2013 in a bid to prevent the PKK from justifying its actions.
The process saw the reinstatement of the rights of the Kurdish community, but it ultimately collapsed when the PKK resumed its terrorist attacks after a brief lull.
The PKK’s disarmament process is expected to be completed in the coming months, with the group handing over all of its weapons and some 3,500 members leaving their hideouts in Iraq’s north.
The AK Party cadres are also expected to discuss the constitutional overhaul efforts at the July camp.
Erdoğan’s government has been pushing to overhaul the Constitution for over a decade now, which was enforced in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.
The AK Party has a comprehensive draft prepared by a scientific council during the pandemic, which it’s hoping to submit to Parliament.
The party has held several workshops with academicians and legal experts on a new constitution in the past year and is currently preparing to convene an exclusive commission tasked with outlining a method to produce a draft.
Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek died after suffering an electric shock while inspecting a malfunction in his home swimming pool, Türkiye’s health minister announced Monday.
Zeyrek had been receiving intensive care at Manisa Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital since the June 6 incident at his home in the Yunusemre district. Despite all medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed the news in a statement on social media, offering condolences to Zeyrek’s family and loved ones. “Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who had been undergoing treatment at the hospital following an accident at his home, has passed away despite all intervention,” Memişoğlu said. “May he rest in peace. Our condolences to his family, friends, and all who loved him.”
Zeyrek, a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), had earned wide support from Manisa residents in the March 31 local elections, in which he became the first CHP mayor of the city in decades.
His passing prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a message of condolence following the news of Zeyrek’s death. In a post on social media, Erdoğan said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Ferdi Zeyrek as a result of a tragic accident. I extend my condolences to his family, colleagues, the citizens of Manisa, and the entire CHP organization. May Allah have mercy on him.”
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli expressed sadness over the loss, saying: “It is with deep sorrow that I learned of the passing of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Ferdi Zeyrek following the unfortunate accident he suffered at his home. I offer my condolences to his family, loved ones, and the CHP community.”
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also extended condolences, saying: “May Allah have mercy on Manisa Metropolitan Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who lost his life after a tragic accident. My sympathies to his family and loved ones.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesman Ömer Çelik shared similar sentiments, noting Zeyrek’s contributions to public life: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek. We offer our condolences to his family, loved ones, the CHP community, and the people of Manisa.”
Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş said he was “deeply pained” by the loss of his fellow mayor and friend. “He was one of the honorable sons of this country, devoted to the Republic and known for his honesty,” Yavaş said. “May his soul rest in peace.”
Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also paid tribute to Zeyrek, saying: “I am profoundly saddened by the passing of our beloved Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, who had won the affection and trust of the people of Manisa. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, supporters, and all Manisa residents.”
Zeyrek’s funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by municipal officials.
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