Politics
Kılıçdaroğlu announces CHP congress process, calls for party unity
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Monday announced the start of the party’s congress process and urged members to stand united ahead of a parliamentary group meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Kılıçdaroğlu said the main opposition party would formally launch its congress process with its first Party Assembly meeting on Thursday, June 11.
In a statement shared on social media, the CHP leader emphasized unity within the party, describing its members as a large family brought together by a common purpose despite differing views.
“We are not rivals to one another. We are the sons and daughters of the Republican People’s Party walking shoulder to shoulder,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
He reiterated the party’s goals of strengthening democracy and justice in Türkiye during the second century of the republic and called on party members to demonstrate solidarity throughout the congress process.
Kılıçdaroğlu also invited CHP members to attend Tuesday’s parliamentary group meeting with a spirit of unity, urging them to remain connected through what he described as common sense and comradeship.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will represent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Sofia on June 10, where regional leaders are expected to discuss cooperation, security and economic development across the Balkans, Foreign Ministry sources said.
The summit, hosted by Bulgaria under the theme “Strengthening Regional Unity for a Stable, Secure and Sustainable Future: Reflections on 30 Years of Partnership and Progress,” will bring together heads of state and government, foreign ministers from 13 participating countries and the secretary-general of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the operational arm of the SEECP.
A summit declaration is expected to be adopted at the conclusion of the meeting.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan is expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s support for enhancing regional cooperation based on the principles of regional ownership and inclusivity. He is also expected to emphasize Ankara’s commitment to the SEECP, describing the platform as one of the most important mechanisms for political dialogue in the Balkans.
Fidan is anticipated to underline the strategic significance of the Balkans not only for regional stability but also for the security of a broader geographic area.
He is expected to stress that strengthening good-neighborly relations remains a shared responsibility and highlight Türkiye’s efforts to promote dialogue and cooperation through initiatives such as the Balkan Peace Platform.
The Turkish foreign minister is also expected to call for stronger transportation and energy connectivity across the region, arguing that deeper integration would help unlock the Balkans’ economic and strategic potential while contributing to prosperity and sustainable development.
Fidan is expected to reiterate Türkiye’s support for diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine war and emphasize the importance of maintaining dialogue between Iran and the United States and preventing renewed regional tensions.
The SEECP was established in 1996 and remains the only regional cooperation platform that includes all Balkan countries.
Romania is scheduled to assume the bloc’s rotating chairmanship from Bulgaria on July 1.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and its ally in the People’s Alliance, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) proved they are still a force to reckon with as the country went to by-elections in several neighborhoods and “beldes” (small districts). Despite its last-minute campaigning, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which relied on its belief that people were fed up with the current government, lost to the alliance, securing only one mayoral seat out of six.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated the party’s victory as he addressed a crowd of supporters via phone link at Mustafapaşa, a newly created belde in central province of Nevşehir.
“People’s Alliance won four seats and MHP won another one. This is a great victory we achieved together. I send my greetings and love to all brothers and sisters who devoted themselves to this cause. We hope this success will continue,” he said. Mustafa Özer, AK Party candidate for Mustafapaşa mayor secured 876 of 1,695 votes according to unofficial results while CHP followed it with 378 votes and Bliss Party (SP) won 259 votes.
Out of six beldes in Nevşehir and provinces of Tokat and Gümüşhane, CHP only won the mayoral seat in Çevrecik of Tokat. Even there, it surpassed AK Party only with 74 votes.
Ali Ihsan Yavuz, deputy chair of AK Party in charge of electoral affairs, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Sunday that the election results were testament to the popularity of AK Party and President Erdoğan. He said that compared to the 2024 municipal elections, the by-election indicated that the nation was still supportive of their party and the People’s Alliance. AK Party has lost several of its strongholds, including Ankara for the first time in decades, in the 2024 elections. “Unofficial results show the AK Party won 94% of the vote in Tokat’s Bağtaşı belde and it is extraordinary compared to past elections held in Tokat. Similarly, the vote in Yolüstü belde is about 82%. In Tokat’s Kuşçu, we backed the MHP’s candidate and they won around 60% of the vote. Elections in Mustafapaşa were critical for us, and there, the AK Party won 52% of the vote. Similarly, in Gümüşhane’s Tekke, unofficial results show a 65% rate,” he said.
Yavuz stated that the outcome was particularly interesting in Çevrecik where CHP won. “Compared top ast elections, we increased our votes five-fold,” he said.
The by-election was a test for the opposition as well as CHP, which counts on forcing the government to reschedule the 2028 vote to an earlier date to end AK Party’s decades-old streak of wins in general elections. Özgür Özel, who was ousted from chairmanship of CHP, campaigned in the by-election constituencies days before the vote, seeking to rally party’s supporters. Özel, who was replaced by his predecessor, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, bypassed Kılıçdaroğlu for the campaign, though his only title in the party is parliamentary group chair. Still, he managed to attract crowds in the constituencies he visited. In his speeches, Özel portrayed the by-election as one step toward his party’s “march to power,” firmly believing that the CHP may end its unlucky streak under his leadership, which has been dubious after a court ruled that the intra-party election he won in 2023 was stained with vote-buying allegations.
The 10th edition of a tripartite meeting of foreign ministers of Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia will be held in Istanbul on Monday.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will host Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Georgia’s Maka Botchorishvili.
Foreign Ministry sources said on Sunday that the meeting will focus on a review of cooperation between the three countries and future steps to improve joint work. The meeting’s agenda include regional developments, foreign policy issues, cooperation in the South Caucasus, reinforcing transportation, connectivity and regional transit networks, energy security and deepening commercial and economic relations, the sources said.
At the meeting, Fidan is expected to highlight the rising strategic importance of the South Caucasus at a time of geopolitical uncertainties, increasing economic fragility and security challenges, and trilateral cooperation mechanism between the three countries serving as a significant and solution-oriented platform promoting stability and welfare in the region.
The most immediate threat to the security in the region is the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, by which the three countries are expected to be affected directly or indirectly. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is another immediate security challenge, especially for Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
Fidan will highlight that Türkiye’s strong and multi-dimensional relations with Azerbaijan and Georgia greatly contributed to regional stability and economic integration. Sources said the minister would also point out the rising importance of the Middle Corridor, in light of transformation of global supply chains, energy supply security debate and changing geo-economical dynamics, in terms of connectivity between Europe and Asia. The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), is a rapidly developing multimodal transport network – combining rail and maritime links – that connects China and Southeast Asia to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye.
The corridor, stretching from China’s far east, through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan toward Türkiye and Europe is seen as a vital artery bypassing conflict areas, including Russia and Ukraine in the north and Middle East in the south.
In this context, Fidan is expected to highlight that strengthening regional transportation projects, developing logistics networks and increasing transportation options in the Middle Corridor, particularly the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, are among joint priorities.
On June 2, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia marked the launch of full-capacity operations on the key freight and passenger link between Europe and China. A vital segment of the Middle Corridor, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line was launched in 2017 and has since played a significant role in strengthening links between Asia and Europe.
The three countries are also linked by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas line. Trade links between Türkiye and the Caucasus region were limited before the BTK was inaugurated. The link starts in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, trains stop in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, pass through gauge-changing facilities in Akhalkalaki and end their journey in the northeastern Turkish town of Kars. The link reduces journey times between China and Europe to around 15 days, which is more than twice as fast as the sea route. Trains can depart from cities in China, cross into Kazakhstan at the Khorgos Gateway, be transported across the Caspian Sea by ferry to the New Port of Baku and then be loaded directly onto the BTK and head to Europe.
Fidan will also emphasize the major contribution of strategic projects on energy to the energy security of the three countries as well as the wider region, the importance of developing cooperation further on energy and sustainable connectivity.
Sources said he would also stress the strategic importance of permanent peace, stability and normalization in the South Caucaus for regional prosperity. Additionally, he is expected to highlight the threat of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the South Caucaus, the Black Sea and the regions in the vicinity and the need to support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict as soon as possible through a fair and lasting peace.
Foreign ministers of the three countries first met in a trilateral format in Trabzon, a Black Sea Turkish province, in June 2012, in a bid to institutionalize the political dialogue and enhance regional cooperation. The last meeting was held in Baku in March 2024. The meetings focused on foreign policy, regional developments, transportation and connectivity, energy security, commerce and regional infrastructure projects. The three countries are located right on a strategic connection route between Europe and Asia.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was hopeful for normalization of relations with Türkiye as he cast his vote in his country’s parliamentary elections on Sunday
Speaking with journalists after casting his ballot in the country’s parliamentary elections, he expressed confidence that the border with Türkiye, as well as railway and road communications, will open in the near future.
“We currently, fortunately, have peace with Azerbaijan. You know that we have very deep and fraternal relations with Georgia. And, of course, I expect the normalization of relations with Türkiye and the establishment of diplomatic relations,” he said. He also highlighted Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, saying it could transform the region by expanding east-west and north-south transport routes benefiting Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Iran.
Armenia opened polling stations on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time for voting in the parliamentary elections. Sixteen political parties and two political alliances have registered to take part in the election, including the Civil Contract, led by Pashinyan.
Pashinyan also said Yerevan will deepen EU integration and continue a “balanced foreign policy” after the elections.
He underlined that Armenia will continue the process of alignment with EU standards.
“When Armenia is fully and sincerely aligned with the standards of the European Union, two scenarios are possible. The first is that the European Union will accept Armenia as a full member. The second is that it will not, because that depends on many political circumstances; for example, the EU may decide not to expand at all,” he said, adding that in both cases, Armenia will benefit, because even without membership, it will have a state aligned with European standards.
Asked about balancing relations between the EU and Russia, Pashinyan said his administration will continue to adhere to a balanced foreign policy.
He also noted that he does not see any tension in relations with Russia and described such claims as “artificial.”
“Certain forces operating in Armenia are trying to create tensions in Armenia-Russia relations. These tensions are not created for the simple reason that I have very close relations with the president of the Russian Federation,” he noted.
“May Allah grant me the governorship of Jerusalem,” Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi told an event on Saturday in the central province of Çorum.
His remarks echoed the common sentiment in Türkiye, which stands for Palestinians in the face of Israeli oppression and occupation of Palestinian lands.
Çiftçi, a former governor, was addressing a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) where he hailed how far Türkiye has come under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“We still have a long way to go to achieve Kızıl Elma,” he said, referring to a Turkish mythological concept of achieving an ultimate goal.
“Just as we have seen the liberation of Damascus, Aleppo and Karabakh, Allah willing, we will witness the liberation of Jerusalem,” he said. The said Syrian cities were liberated by revolutionaries who ousted the brutal Assad regime in 2024 while Azerbaijan retook Armenian-occupied Karabakh in 2022.
Türkiye advocates for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 borders while Israel pushes for more occupation, seeking to annex more Palestinian lands through thriving illegal settlements.
The minister said he prayed to Allah while he was the governor of province of Erzurum (before he took office as interior minister earlier this year) “to govern Jerusalem as a governor even for a day.”
“I believe God will grant this to us. I heartily believe in it. This may be the reality in the future because we have a global leader,” he said, referring to Erdoğan.
Palestine came under Ottoman rule in the 16th century. The rule lasted for more than four centuries, before Jerusalem and other Palestinian territories fell to the British rule. Subsequently, it fell into hands of Israel.
President Erdoğan slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year over a debate on the history of the city. Speaking at a ceremony to reopen a first-century path connecting the Pool of Siloam to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 2025 Netanyahu referred to a meeting that allegedly took place in 1998 with then-Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz in which Netanyahu claimed Yılmaz refused to return to Israel a tablet with a Hebrew inscription found near the site because “it would prove that Jerusalem was a Jewish city 2,700 years ago.”
Netanyahu claimed he extended an offer to Yılmaz to replace the Siloam Inscription with “one of the thousands of Ottoman artifacts in our museums,” but was turned down.
Netanyahu said Yılmaz rejected his request out of concern that the electorate led by then-Istanbul Mayor Erdoğan would be outraged by the tablet being given to Israel.
“Jerusalem is our city. Mr. Erdoğan, this is not your city. This is our city. It will always be our city. It will never be divided again,” Netanyahu said.
In response, Erdoğan, one of the most virulent critics of Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, vowed Türkiye “will not allow unauthorized hands to pollute Jerusalem.”
“I know the pain of those Hitler-minded individuals will never fade,” he said. “Let them continue to throw tantrums. We, as Muslims, will not take a single step back from our rights over East Jerusalem,” he added.
“Whether the perpetrator is an organization or the state, terrorism and massacres are a mental deadlock. This bloody lock that holds our region captive will eventually be broken.”
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said Monday that he believes Türkiye will adopt a new constitution during the 2026-2027 period, describing the proposed charter as a modern social contract that would strengthen national unity and enhance the country’s global competitiveness.
Speaking on ongoing constitutional reform efforts, Kurtulmuş said the new text should address Türkiye’s current needs while reinforcing its ability to respond to regional and global challenges.
“I believe Türkiye will realize a new constitution in 2026 or 2027 that befits our nation, ensures the unity and integrity of our people, increases the country’s competitiveness on the global stage and protects it from threats in the region and the world,” he said.
Kurtulmuş also rejected criticism from opponents who argue that there is no “constituent power” capable of drafting a new constitution under the current system.
“I can hear those saying, ‘There is no constituent power.’ Their real concern is denying the nation the authority and status of being the constituent power,” Kurtulmuş said.
The government has been pushing to overhaul the Constitution for over a decade now, which was adopted 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.
Over the years, Erdoğan and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials have repeatedly called for a new civilian constitution to replace it, describing the current one as “outdated.”
The AK Party has long campaigned for a new constitution, including a declaration announced during its 2023 election campaign. The “New Constitution for the New Century of Türkiye” declaration, which refers to the second century of the Republic of Türkiye, underlined the need for a new constitution. “Establishing a constitutional order based on human dignity for the prevalence of developments in the field of rights and freedoms is necessary,” the 2023 declaration said.
The declaration also said the constitution would preserve democratic gains acquired during the AK Party’s governance and would ensure a high-standard democracy, guarantees for freedoms and the supremacy of law.
Most recently, the AK Party’s deputy chair in charge of political and legal affairs and the party’s Constitutional Commission member, Hayati Yazıcı, stated that the commission is evaluating what provisions should be included in a new constitution, which current articles may no longer be necessary, and how fundamental rights and freedoms should be framed. Once the work is completed, the commission will submit an executive summary to Erdoğan, who also serves as AK Party’s chairperson, before moving to a broader consultation phase.
He remarked that drafting a constitution is the right of the nation. “The constitution is made by the people, but up to now the people have never been able to exercise this right,” he said, referring to the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions.
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