Politics
Türkiye’s CHP-run municipalities suffer from poor management
Spiralling debts and mismanagement engulf municipalities run by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) since the 2024 elections.
CHP’s populist discourse granted the party first genuine wins in decades in the municipal elections but municipalities failed to follow up this with public services. Under the administration of now ousted chair Özgür Özel, CHP sought to break the curse of two decades of defeat to ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) by pledging a more prosperous Türkiye to the electorate disillusioned with rising cost of living. But economic pledges are nowhere to be seen in the municipal services. Instead, financial woes are piling up.
Most CHP-run municipalities fail to pay the municipal employees properly, leading to strikes. Municipal workers complain that irregular payments and in some cases, absence of payments, force them to withdraw loans.
Çiğli, a district of CHP stronghold Izmir, is among the worst faring municipalities in terms of financial and human resources management. The municipality fired 147 workers after the 2024 elections without paying compensation and for at least five months, did not pay salaries of most workers. Protests by workers have been common in the past two years while suicide of a worker, a father of three who was fired without compensation made the headlines.
Other districts of Izmir are no different. In Karşıyaka, workers complaining lack of payment went on strike for days. In Buca, workers tried to storm the city hall to protest unpaid wages. A strike by garbage collectors employed by the municipality had triggered a pollution crisis in the district last year. Konak municipality was also rocked with strikes by workers over unpaid wages.
CHP has managed to win the 2024 vote in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, an AK Party stronghold and took over the municipality debt-free. However, in two years, a debt crisis took hold in the municipality, forcing it to skip even pensions of retired workers. Newly retired personnel complain they were not paid severance pay for months. Unable to pay salaries, the municipality decided to sell four properties it owned. Similarly, the Eyüpsultan municipality of Istanbul where AK Party lost to CHP in 2024, suffer from financial woes and last year, the municipality told workers that it can only pay a fraction of their wages due to economic problems.
Türkiye’s growing regional influence could increase the potential for friction and conflict with Israel, former Israeli National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat said, warning Israeli authorities against complacency as Ankara expands its role across the Middle East.
Speaking to Israel’s Maariv newspaper on Tuesday, Ben-Shabbat argued that Türkiye is taking advantage of shifting regional dynamics to strengthen its position as a leading Middle Eastern power.
He pointed particularly to Syria, saying Türkiye has emerged as a key player in the country following the collapse of the Baath regime and the withdrawal of Iran’s military presence.
“Ankara is further consolidating its position in the region by financing and training the new Syrian army, building energy and transportation infrastructure and through many other moves,” he said.
Ben-Shabbat also highlighted the Aug. 7 Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, arguing that the pact seeks to provide mutual defense and regional stability without complete reliance on Washington.
“It places Türkiye in a position of diplomatic-military leadership,” he noted.
Turning to the Eastern Mediterranean, Ben-Shabbat argued that Türkiye’s objectives under its Blue Homeland doctrine conflict with Israel’s partnerships with Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, as well as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, potentially creating persistent disputes over maritime jurisdiction and sovereignty.
Despite his warnings, Ben-Shabbat said Israel should not view Türkiye and Iran through the same lens, arguing that the two countries have distinct characteristics requiring different approaches.
He also urged Israel to remain cautious toward regional agreements and avoid relying on other actors for its security.
“We must preserve our security margins,” he said, warning that diplomatic agreements could ultimately be reversed.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi met his Bulgarian counterpart, Ivan Demerdzhiev, in Sofia on Tuesday. The two ministers oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the law enforcement academies of the two countries and held a joint news conference.
Çiftçi underlined that the two countries need to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fight against criminal gangs, as they share a border. “We are not just neighbors. We are also two friends and allies in the same region,” he said at the news conference.
Çiftçi said he discussed areas of cooperation with Demerdzhiev. “One of the primary areas where there is room for greater cooperation is the fight against cross-border crime. Türkiye is currently engaged in a fight against next-generation criminal organizations. They have evolved into next-generation terrorist groups,” he said.
Türkiye has stepped up its crackdown on criminal gangs, particularly those exploiting minors and recruiting them to carry out murders and extortion.
Çiftçi underlined that Türkiye does not view its own security independently from that of its neighbors, stressing that cooperation with Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry is valuable for peace and security in the region.
Pointing to important steps taken with Bulgaria in the fight against next-generation criminal gangs, Çiftçi said: “They have extradited 89 people wanted by our country. Discussions on the extradition of 19 people are ongoing. I believe the necessary assistance and support will also be provided on this matter. On the other hand, as Türkiye, we have extradited 24 people wanted by the Bulgarian authorities.”
Çiftçi also emphasized the importance of combating drugs during Tuesday’s talks. “Cooperation between the two countries in the fight against drugs is extremely important. We value Bulgaria’s support in combating both new-generation crime and drug trafficking. We believe that the steps we take in these areas will serve the interests of both countries. This makes security cooperation between our countries not a matter of choice, but a necessity,” he said.
For his part, Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev praised Türkiye’s efforts in the fight against irregular migration.
He said Çiftçi’s visit was a clear indication of the high level of good-neighborly relations between Bulgaria and Türkiye, noting that these relations are based on “partnership, mutual trust and mutual respect.” He added that he and Çiftçi had discussed numerous issues at both the political and professional levels.
Demerdzhiev said their shared priorities included combating irregular migration, drug trafficking and distribution, human trafficking and smuggling. He added that they also shared the view with Türkiye that crimes committed by young people were an issue that needed to be addressed.
The Bulgarian minister said they had reached an agreement on cooperation in these areas.
Emphasizing that he had informed Çiftçi that Bulgaria would “fight all forms of organized crime without compromise,” Demerdzhiev said they had also discussed the significant amount of capital held in Türkiye and other countries as a result of corrupt activities in Bulgaria. Demerdzhiev said Çiftçi had assured him that Türkiye would assist Bulgaria in combating such crimes, adding that the two sides had also agreed to identify and repatriate assets obtained through illegal means. Demerdzhiev also noted that they had discussed in detail the security and management of their shared border, saying they had identified a number of measures to make the process more efficient.
A draft law to advance the terror-free Türkiye initiative, which involves the disarmament and dissolution of the terrorist group PKK, was before Parliament on Monday for deliberation.
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration provides for the deferral of prosecution and prison terms for members of the terrorist group who surrender. Parliament’s Justice Committee approved the bill over the weekend and referred it to the General Assembly.
Monday was also the last day before parliament begins a recess that will continue until October. Lawmakers are expected to continue discussions on the law until early hours of Tuesday.
Abdullah Güler, parliamentary group chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), who worked with representatives of other parties to drum up support for the draft law, sought to convince lawmakers to have faith in the legislation, while most parties expressed support for it.
“We don’t want guns to dominate the agenda in this country again. This law truly presents a terror-free Türkiye model,” he told lawmakers at the General Assembly.
The General Assembly session was portrayed as “historic” by Turkish media outlets. It was almost as if the initiative had come full circle, with Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the government’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), sitting in his usual seat and shaking hands with lawmakers from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in October 2024.
The unprecedented sight of a nationalist politician shaking hands with lawmakers from a party closely linked to the PKK is now regarded as the informal beginning of the initiative. Soon after the handshake, Bahçeli called for the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to order the terrorist group to lay down its arms. Öcalan complied and made the call in February 2025.
Bahçeli shook hands with DEM lawmakers again as he took his parliamentary seat, just a few inches away from Müsavat Dervişoğlu, leader of the Good Party (IP), which strictly opposes the law. Dervişoğlu and other IP lawmakers donned scarves with Turkish flags to protest the legislation.
The main opposition New Party (YP), which had remained undecided on its position on the law, announced at the last minute on Monday that it would vote in favor of it.
The draft bill will come into force once authorities verify that the PKK and all of its regional affiliates have fully dissolved and handed over all weapons and munitions to security forces, and this verification is published in the Official Gazette.
The bill covers crimes including founding and running the PKK, aiding and abetting the group, producing propaganda for it and funding its operations. Suspects who were prosecuted or investigated for those crimes will have their sentences deferred for five to 10 years. The deferral period will be longer for those prosecuted for crimes carrying prison terms of more than 15 years.
PKK members involved in killings, as well as those prosecuted and sentenced for crimes carrying penalties such as life imprisonment before June 1, 2005, will be exempt from the deferrals. This includes most senior PKK cadres currently hiding in northern Iraq, as well as Abdullah Öcalan, who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment and is currently held in an island prison near Istanbul.
Those benefiting from the deferrals will have certain political and civil rights suspended for two to three years. PKK members seeking to benefit from the deferrals will be allowed to apply at Turkish diplomatic missions in their countries of residence.
Türkiye will also establish two boards to monitor the process: a monitoring board chaired by the vice president and a parliamentary board comprising 17 members. Authorities will record every weapon, piece of ammunition, explosive and piece of equipment declared by PKK members in a registry to monitor the dissolution process.
Speaking on behalf of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the early hours of the session, lawmaker Inan Akgün Alp said his party had consistently supported resolving what he called the “Kurdish issue” through peaceful means and would unreservedly support current efforts as well.
“If the guns fall silent, brotherhood will grow stronger. If brotherhood grows stronger, Türkiye will grow stronger. If Türkiye grows stronger, our nation will win,” Alp said.
MHP Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız assured fellow lawmakers in his speech at the Assembly that the bill was not a regulation that “eliminates convictions, changes the legal nature of crimes or terminates criminal liability.”
“Ongoing investigation and prosecution processes, as well as finalized convictions, remain in force with all their consequences. No change is envisaged regarding the nature of the crime, the conviction or criminal liability,” he said.
Addressing the session, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan said the law was the “first step toward bringing Kurds within the legal order.”
“I would particularly like to underline the founding role of Öcalan, whose call for peace and a democratic society on Feb. 27, 2025, made this beginning possible. His efforts in favor of a solution should be viewed fairly, rather than through prejudice.
“We also acknowledge the constructive role played in this process by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli.
“The law we are discussing today is not a law that creates privileges; it is the first step toward resolving the conflict. This is not a matter of give and take. It is a step toward correcting our historical relationship and achieving a proper reconciliation.
“This law and this process are not concessions, nor are they about winning or losing. There is only one winner in this process: all of Türkiye, our 86 million citizens,” he said.
YP Chair Özgür Özel said the party had decided to vote in favor of the law “so that mothers would not have to hug their children’s coffins.”
“Peace, democracy and justice will be the medicine of this country. We will build our common future together,” he added.
Türkiye’s Parliament on Monday passed a landmark 12-article law supporting the country’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, following months of political efforts led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli.
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved with 468 votes in favor and 88 against. A total of 562 lawmakers took part in the vote, with six abstentions.
The legislation cleared the General Assembly after lawmakers completed deliberations on all 12 articles. It had previously been approved by Parliament’s Justice Committee following a marathon session lasting over 17 hours.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran hailed the law’s passage as an important demonstration of the political resolve behind Türkiye’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative.
Duran said the historic step would further strengthen national unity and solidarity and contribute to Türkiye’s goal of permanently eliminating terrorism and moving toward a safer future.
He thanked lawmakers, political parties and others involved throughout the legislative process, saying the measure adopted under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership should become a lasting achievement for future generations.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, meanwhile, described the vote as a “historic achievement,” saying the level of parliamentary consensus was rarely seen even in constitutional votes.
“This success does not belong to a single party; it is a success for all of Türkiye,” Kurtulmuş told reporters after the vote.
Describing the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative as a “Türkiye model” developed without outside mediation, Kurtulmuş said the next stage would focus on the terrorist organization fully laying down its arms and dissolving itself.
He also credited Erdoğan’s political leadership and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli’s support for advancing the process, while thanking political parties and lawmakers for their contributions.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek also welcomed the legislation, saying the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative would help the country leave behind the heavy costs of terrorism and make peace, security and fraternity permanent.
Gürlek said the legislation would further strengthen national unity as Türkiye advances its “Century of Türkiye” vision and thanked Erdoğan, Bahçeli, Kurtulmuş, political parties and lawmakers for their roles in the process.
The vote represents a key parliamentary milestone in the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, which seeks to permanently end terrorism and oversee the disarmament and dissolution of the PKK terrorist group.
Speaking before the final vote, ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chair Efkan Ala said the broad parliamentary backing demonstrated the level of political consensus surrounding the initiative.
Ala said 367 lawmakers had initially signed the legislative proposal, with additional lawmakers adding their support afterward.
He also outlined the expected next stages of the process, saying developments would be monitored by a parliamentary commission after the legislation enters into force.
According to Ala, authorities would verify the surrender of weapons and ammunition as well as the terrorist group’s dissolution on the ground. The findings would then be assessed by the National Security Council (MGK), with subsequent decisions published in the Official Gazette.
“The terrorist organization will be dismantled with all its elements, both at home and abroad, including in Europe,” Ala said.
New Party Chairperson Özgür Özel also announced his party’s support for the legislation during the General Assembly debate, saying it would not stand in the way of efforts to achieve peace.
“We will not stand in the way of peace so that we no longer receive news of martyrs,” Özel said. “We will vote ‘yes’ on this law.”
Özel said political parties had a responsibility to prevent further loss of life and argued that lasting peace ultimately belonged to the Turkish people.
MHP leader Bahçeli was seen applauding Özel’s remarks in Parliament, underscoring the broad political support behind the legislation despite differences among the parties over aspects of the process.
The legislation forms a central component of the broader “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, which has gathered momentum through a series of political and institutional steps aimed at eliminating the PKK’s armed presence and bringing the decadeslong terrorism problem to an end.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday called for deeper economic and strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Austria while urging the European Union to move forward on modernizing the Customs Union and advancing visa liberalization.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Erdoğan said the two leaders discussed the full scope of bilateral ties, as well as Türkiye-EU relations and key regional and global developments.
Erdoğan said Türkiye attaches importance to the well-being and prosperity of the Turkish community in Austria, adding that the issue was also raised during their talks.
Regarding Türkiye’s relations with the European Union, Erdoğan said he conveyed Ankara’s expectations to Stocker during their meeting.
“I emphasized that steps to be taken by the European Union, particularly on modernizing the Customs Union and the visa liberalization dialogue, would be in all of our interests,” Erdoğan said.
The leaders also discussed regional conflicts, with Erdoğan reiterating Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and unity and saying Ankara values Austria’s potential contribution to the country’s reconstruction.
On the Middle East, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for a two-state solution, describing it as indispensable for lasting peace in the region.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, an issue he said Stocker also viewed with particular sensitivity.
Erdoğan added that Türkiye and Austria attach great importance to maintaining stability in the Balkans and voiced hope that the recent positive momentum in bilateral relations would continue.
Stocker, meanwhile, praised Türkiye’s role in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and commended Erdoğan’s personal diplomatic efforts toward finding a resolution to the conflict.
Pointing to growing economic ties, Erdoğan said Türkiye and Austria have maintained positive momentum in bilateral trade and expressed confidence that trade volume would reach the countries’ $5 billion target this year, up from around $4 billion in 2022.
More than 1,000 Austrian companies currently operate in Türkiye, while Austrian direct investment in the country has exceeded $11 billion. Turkish investments in Austria, meanwhile, are approaching $1 billion, Erdoğan said.
“All these figures are the clearest indication of the potential between us,” he said.
Erdoğan proposed establishing an Economic and Trade Partnership Committee to replace the existing Joint Economic Commission mechanism, saying the new structure could help further develop the two countries’ longstanding economic relations.
He said Türkiye hopes to hold the committee’s first meeting before the end of the year.
Türkiye and Austria also have significant potential for cooperation in green energy, critical minerals, high technology, transportation and the defense industry, Erdoğan said.
He particularly highlighted opportunities for strategic cooperation aimed at strengthening the Middle Corridor, a key trade and transportation route connecting Asia and Europe.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his French and German counterparts on Monday, days after Türkiye signed a trilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Fidan spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.
The ministers discussed regional developments during the calls, the sources said.
The talks came after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7.
The trilateral agreement seeks to deepen defense cooperation between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and strengthen commitments to regional and global security, stability and burden-sharing.
The agreement has drawn attention as Ankara expands its defense partnerships and diplomatic engagement across the region.
Minister Fidan said Saturday that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is technically the same as Article 5 of the NATO treaty concerning collective defense.
He underlined that the agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan aims to contribute to lasting stability in the region.
“There is no common threat that we have put in writing,” Fidan noted, adding that the agreement does not target any country that does not attack its signatories.
Fidan described the signing of the agreement as a “historic day,” saying it represented one of the milestones that Türkiye had been pursuing for years under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership.
Fidan noted the agreement had received strong support, particularly from countries in the Islamic world, including countries that were not members but were almost as pleased with the agreement as if they themselves had joined it.
He said there were also supporters in the West who understood the substance of the initiative.
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