Politics
Turkish main opposition expected to remove more provincial heads
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is expected to continue replacing provincial heads as the party leadership moves to end internal divisions following a court ruling that deepened the rift within the party.
The CHP administration, led by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has so far removed 10 provincial heads and referred four of them to disciplinary boards, according to party sources. More dismissals are expected in the coming weeks, with at least 50 provincial chairs likely to be replaced by September, according to a report by Sabah newspaper.
The party has been facing growing internal tension after a court ruling on absolute nullity intensified divisions between factions loyal to Kılıçdaroğlu and those aligned with Manisa deputy Özgür Özel. Seventy-four provincial heads had reportedly sided with Özel during the process, drawing criticism from the party leadership.
Party sources said Kılıçdaroğlu does not have a prejudiced stance against any party official but added that no chairperson would allow dual authority within the organization.
The provinces expected to be affected in the next round include Sinop, Kars and Düzce. A new appointment is also expected in Bitlis, where the previous provincial administration had been removed.
Among the names reportedly facing removal are Düzce provincial head Özcan Dağıstanlı, who called Kılıçdaroğlu “Kayyumdaroğlu,” Kars provincial head Onur Uludaşdemir, who used the term “pawn” for the CHP leader, and Sinop provincial head Aykut Cem Yalçınkaya, who drew attention with a video mocking Kılıçdaroğlu.
Meanwhile, several candidates from across Türkiye have reportedly visited CHP headquarters in Ankara to seek appointment to provincial posts. Former provincial and district heads, lawmakers, mayors and local council members from cities including Mardin, Antalya, Adana and Izmir have also conveyed messages of support to Kılıçdaroğlu and his team.
The CHP has also formed a special review board for mayors whose names have been linked to corruption investigations. The board, composed of experts in law, accounting and other fields, is expected to prepare reports that could influence future disciplinary referrals concerning municipalities.
Wave of resignations
Kılıçdaroğlu repeatedly referred to the need for “renewal,” “cleansing” and a “clean congress,” saying the CHP would hold those responsible for alleged wrongdoing accountable and organize what he described as a transparent party congress.
He also drew a distinction between party members whom he said represented the CHP’s values and those he accused of damaging the party’s reputation through corruption or misconduct.
The dispute escalated further on June 10, 2026, when the CHP executive board, chaired by Kılıçdaroğlu, referred nine lawmakers associated with Özel to the party’s High Disciplinary Board with a request for permanent expulsion.
Party spokesperson Müslim Sarı said the disciplinary measures formed part of what the leadership described as a broader effort to promote “clean politics.”
The executive board later initiated similar disciplinary proceedings against Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer and Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, bringing the total number of senior party figures facing expulsion requests to 11.
In response, 28 members of the CHP party assembly aligned with Özel resigned from the body, further deepening the institutional crisis.
The leadership dispute also coincided with a broader wave of resignations among local politicians.
Nimet Özdemir, a lawmaker who resigned from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), formally joined the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) last Wednesday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Özdemir at the parliamentary group meeting of the party.
Two weeks ago, former Good Party (IP) lawmaker Ersin Beyaz joined the AK Party, soon after his resignation from the opposition party.
The AK Party has seen a stream of new transfers in the past two years. Since the 2024 elections, 15 mayors have left their parties and joined the AK Party. Most of them were formerly members of the CHP.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday dismissed Israel’s recognition of the 1915 events as so-called “genocide,” accusing the Israeli government of attempting to deflect attention from its violations in Gaza while reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities amid growing regional instability.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan said Türkiye would not take seriously accusations from a government “whose hands are stained with the blood” of Palestinians, reiterating Ankara’s long-standing criticism of Israel’s genocidal conduct in Gaza.
“We do not give the slightest credence to the slander directed at our country by a criminal network whose hands are stained with the blood of 73,000 innocent Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza,” Erdoğan said, referring to Israel’s recent recognition of the 1915 events as “genocide.”
The president rejected allegations against Türkiye’s historical record, saying the country’s legacy was rooted in justice rather than oppression.
“There is neither genocide, nor massacres, nor oppression, nor colonialism in our history,” Erdoğan said. “Throughout our thousands of years of glorious history, there has been only justice and compassion. We have always extended a helping hand to the oppressed, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or identity.”
He added that those seeking to accuse Türkiye should instead examine their own history, arguing that attempts to target Ankara were aimed at diverting attention from Israel’s “barbarity in Gaza.”
Beyond foreign policy, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye was reinforcing its strategic capabilities in response to an increasingly uncertain global security environment and that the country was prepared for “all scenarios.”
“In a world where the principle of ‘survival of the strongest’ is becoming dominant, we are preparing ourselves for every possible scenario,” he said.
Highlighting advances in the country’s defense industry, Erdoğan said Türkiye has become the world’s 11th-largest defense exporter and is experiencing “the brightest period in its history” in naval shipbuilding.
He noted that Türkiye has exported more than 140 naval platforms worldwide and that more than 50 warships are currently under construction in Turkish shipyards.
Erdoğan also hailed the recent delivery of the domestically developed KAM-ROMAN corvette to the Romanian Navy, describing it as a milestone for Türkiye’s defense industry.
“For the first time in our history, we exported a warship to a NATO and European Union member state,” he said.
The president also highlighted Ankara’s growing ambitions in the space sector, saying Türkiye is among only 11 countries capable of producing its own communications satellites.
He said work was continuing on the IMECE-2 and IMECE-3 satellites, the Göktürk-Y and Göktürk-3 reconnaissance satellites, as well as the Türksat-7A communications satellite, which he said would further strengthen the country’s digital sovereignty and secure communications infrastructure.
“Those who have a footprint in space have a voice in the world,” Erdoğan said, arguing that investment in satellite technologies had become a strategic necessity rather than a choice.
Turning to the economy, Erdoğan said Türkiye achieved a record $395.9 billion in goods and services exports in 2025 and announced that the daily limit for rediscount loans available to exporters had been increased from TL 4.5 billion to TL 5 billion to support businesses.
He also welcomed the latest labor market data, noting that unemployment remained at 8.2% in May, marking the 37th consecutive month in which the rate has stayed in single digits despite what he described as global economic turbulence caused by wars and geopolitical crises.
Erdoğan concluded by calling for national unity and criticized opposition parties for what he described as divisive political rhetoric, saying the government would continue serving all citizens equally regardless of their ethnic, religious or social backgrounds.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Tuesday that Türkiye’s European Union membership remains a strategic objective as Turkish and EU officials stress their commitment to deepening cooperation across security, trade, migration and regional diplomacy during high-level talks in Ankara.
In a statement posted on X, Fidan said he was pleased to host European Commission Executive Vice President and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner in Ankara.
Reiterating Ankara’s long-standing position, Fidan said Türkiye remains committed to its goal of joining the European Union, describing membership as a strategic priority.
“We are ready to advance our relations with the European Union on this basis,” Fidan noted.
He also called on the bloc to move relations forward on the basis of objective criteria and merit, without discrimination.
The sides discussed the full spectrum of Türkiye-EU relations, including foreign policy, connectivity, trade, migration and visa-related issues, Fidan said.
In a joint statement released after the meeting, the sides underlined the strategic importance of Türkiye-EU relations in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, referring to Türkiye’s status as an EU candidate country and emphasizing the partnership’s role in promoting regional stability and economic resilience.
According to the statement, the discussions covered areas of shared interest, including economic and trade cooperation, connectivity, migration, security, and foreign and security policy challenges. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit.
The officials also agreed on the importance of regional stability and good neighborly relations while exchanging views on a range of international issues, including the war in Ukraine, developments in Russia, the Middle East, Africa and the South Caucasus.
Regarding Cyprus, the parties expressed support for the efforts of the U.N. secretary-general to advance the settlement process. The EU side also reiterated the importance of strengthening the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights and maintaining high democratic standards within the framework of Türkiye’s accession process.
Türkiye and the EU reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to pursuing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law. The statement noted that the EU side also stressed the importance of preventing the circumvention of EU sanctions by all states.
The two sides also agreed to coordinate complementary efforts aimed at promoting peace, prosperity and regional connectivity in the South Caucasus through concrete joint initiatives.
On security and defense, the officials emphasized the importance of enhancing dialogue and cooperation in a manner complementary to NATO.
The statement said both sides reaffirmed their determination to improve the implementation of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union while laying the groundwork for its long-discussed modernization. They also highlighted the importance of an inclusive and reciprocal industrial policy to strengthen the competitiveness and economic security of both Türkiye and the EU.
The officials agreed that Türkiye’s possible participation in the Single Euro Payments Area, or SEPA, would bring mutual benefits.
The meeting also included discussions on the state of the Visa Liberalization Dialogue and practical issues related to visa application and processing procedures for Turkish citizens, a longstanding concern for Ankara.
Migration remained another key topic, with both sides acknowledging common challenges arising from the current geopolitical landscape and its potential impact on population movements. They pledged to strengthen cooperation on border management and combating migrant smuggling.
The joint statement also highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, energy, transportation and digitalization within the broader regional connectivity agenda. The parties welcomed the gradual resumption of the European Investment Bank’s operations in Türkiye.
The officials agreed to reconvene before the end of the year for additional high-level dialogue meetings covering the economy, trade, migration and security, as well as health, science, innovation and agriculture, signaling a renewed effort to deepen engagement despite persistent differences over some political issues.
The delegation was received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier on Tuesday and also held talks with other top officials, including Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın discussed strengthening security and intelligence cooperation between Türkiye and Iraq during talks with Iraqi officials, according to statements released Tuesday.
Iraqi President Nizar Amedi received Kalın, head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), in the capital Baghdad, the Iraqi Presidency’s press office said in a written statement.
The meeting at the Iraqi Presidency addressed regional and international developments, as well as efforts to strengthen cooperation between Iraq and Türkiye in security and intelligence, the statement said.
Amedi said dialogue and mutual understanding are essential to resolving crises and stressed the importance of joint efforts to protect shared security against cross-border threats and create a more stable environment in the region.
Kalın said Türkiye is determined to maintain coordination and cooperation with Iraq in all fields, adding that Ankara aims to further develop working mechanisms between the relevant institutions of the two neighboring countries.
As part of his talks in Baghdad, Kalın also met with Faiq Zaidan, head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council.
According to a written statement from the council, the meeting focused on counterterrorism files related to threats to regional security, as well as improving intelligence and information sharing.
Kalın also met with National Security Adviser Basim al-Badri in Baghdad.
He later held talks with Mohammed al-Halbousi, leader of the Taqaddum Party. According to a statement from Halbousi’s press office, the meeting addressed regional and international developments, as well as ways to improve Iraq-Türkiye relations, particularly in the field of security.
The sides also stressed the importance of supporting the new Iraqi government’s efforts to track fugitives wanted on corruption charges who are abroad and secure their extradition to Iraq.
Kalın also discussed improving security cooperation between Iraq and Türkiye with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi.
According to a statement from the Iraqi Parliament Speaker’s press office, the meeting covered regional and international developments.
The sides reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between Iraq and Türkiye, particularly in security, and discussed mechanisms that would serve the common interests of the two countries while supporting regional security and stability.
Kirkuk visit
Kalın also visited the Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, where he inspected the historic Kirkuk Citadel.
He was welcomed at Kirkuk International Airport by Kirkuk Governor and Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) President Mohammed Saman Agha.
Kalın’s first stop in the city was Kirkuk Citadel, where he carried out inspections and visited the Turkish martyrs’ cemetery.
He later visited the ITC headquarters and met with Turkmen officials.
Kalın also held talks with Saman Agha at the Kirkuk Governor’s Office.
Türkiye’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız, warned Tuesday that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is facing unprecedented political attacks aimed at undermining its mandate, urging stronger international support for the organization.
Speaking at the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee’s announcement of voluntary contributions to UNRWA, Yıldız said the agency continues to face both financial and political challenges despite its critical humanitarian role.
“For over 75 years, UNRWA has remained an indispensable pillar of stability, dignity, and hope, providing education, health care, food assistance, social services, emergency relief, shelter, and protection to nearly six million Palestinian refugees,” he said.
“Today, however, chronic financial shortfalls continue to undermine the agency’s ability to provide essential services. Simultaneously, UNRWA has come under unprecedented political pressure, including systematic campaigns to undermine its credibility, question its legitimacy and constrain its operations,” he added.
Established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1949, UNRWA continues to provide humanitarian assistance, education, health care and social services to Palestinian refugees across the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Yıldız praised UNRWA staff for their work under “extraordinarily difficult” circumstances and paid tribute to employees who have been killed while carrying out their duties.
The ambassador also condemned Israel’s actions against the agency, saying Türkiye denounces “Israel’s attacks on UNRWA personnel and premises, and obstructions to UNRWA’s activities in Gaza and occupied Palestinian territories.”
“These are blatant violations of international law,” he said, adding that Israel’s actions seek “to deprive Palestinian refugees of their right to return to their land.”
As chair of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, Yıldız reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to helping secure the agency’s long-term financial sustainability.
“I am pleased to announce that we have already contributed $10 million to UNRWA for 2026,” he said.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi met with his Syrian counterpart, Anas Khattab, in Damascus on Tuesday for talks focused on security cooperation, public order and strengthening Syria’s institutional capacity.
The meeting at Tishreen Palace addressed cooperation between Türkiye and Syria in areas including security, policing, migration management and emergency response, according to officials.
Çiftçi and Khattab discussed the possible installation of electronic traffic monitoring systems, the expansion of license plate recognition and fingerprint identification technologies, improvements to passport and identity card production processes, and cooperation on security equipment.
The two ministers also reviewed possible cooperation on establishing a 112 emergency call and ambulance network, sharing experience in counter-narcotics efforts and training Syrian police officers.
The Turkish delegation included Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Ali Çardakçı, National Police Chief and Governor Ali Fidan, Migration Management President Muhammed Selami Yazıcı and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) President Ali Hamza Pehlivan.
The Syrian side was represented by Deputy Interior Minister Abdulqadir Tahan, Deputy Minister for Administrative and Financial Affairs Basim al-Mansour, Deputy Human Resources Minister Hussam Fattouh, Migration and Passport Department Director Osman Hilal and other officials.
The two ministries signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) after the completion of delegation-level talks.
Following his meeting with Khattab, Çiftçi was expected to hold talks with Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed al-Saleh and later be received by President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
The visit comes as part of Ankara-Damascus agenda to intensify contacts following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in 2024 and the formation of Syria’s new administration under al-Sharaa. The new Syrian leadership has sought to revive state institutions, restore basic services and expand cooperation with regional and international partners after years of civil war.
Türkiye has been among the countries most actively engaged with Damascus during the transition. Turkish officials have repeatedly said that Syria’s stability, territorial integrity and reconstruction are essential for the wider region, arguing that a stronger Syria would contribute to regional security and prosperity.
Ankara backed the Syrian opposition during the civil war and hosted millions of Syrians who fled the conflict. Since the end of Assad’s rule, Türkiye has signaled its readiness to support Syria’s recovery through institutional cooperation, technical assistance and training in several fields.
In recent months, officials from the two countries have held talks across a range of areas, including transportation, education, trade, migration, border security, disaster management and public services. The contacts are part of broader efforts to normalize working ties between the two neighbors and support Syria’s postwar reconstruction.
For Türkiye, cooperation with Syria also carries major domestic and regional significance. Ankara shares a long border with Syria and has long stressed the need to prevent instability and terrorist groups from threatening border security. Turkish officials have also said that improved conditions inside Syria are key to enabling the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Syrian refugees.
Türkiye’s highest appeals court has upheld multiple life sentences handed to three brothers convicted for their roles in the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, finalizing one of the country’s most prominent cases involving members of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) orchestrating the coup.
As the Sabah newspaper reported, the Court of Cassation approved convictions against former military officers Hasan, Hüseyin and Furkan Aslanbay, ruling that the sentences imposed by lower courts should stand.
According to court rulings, the three brothers served in different branches of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and participated in separate operations carried out by coup plotters on the night of July 15.
Former First Lt. Hasan Aslanbay was assigned to the Search and Rescue (MAK) unit based in Izmir and took part in the team that traveled to the southwestern resort of Marmaris, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had been staying before leaving shortly before the attack. Prosecutors said Hasan Aslanbay served as a machine gunner aboard a Sikorsky helicopter used during the operation.
He was convicted of violating the constitution, attempting to assassinate the president, and two counts of intentional killing. The court sentenced him to four aggravated life prison terms and upheld an additional 24-year prison sentence for offenses including unlawful deprivation of liberty and causing injury.
Former First Lt. Hüseyin Aslanbay was convicted of leading a team that raided the Moda Sea Club in Istanbul, where then-Air Force Commander Abidin Ünal and several senior military commanders were attending an event on the night of the coup attempt.
According to the court, Hüseyin Aslanbay was found guilty of unlawfully detaining the commanders and received an aggravated life sentence. He was also sentenced to a total of 120 years in prison on multiple counts of unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Former noncommissioned officer Furkan Aslanbay served in the Special Forces Command and was convicted for participating in the operation led by Brig. Gen. Semih Terzi, who was fatally shot by Sgt. Maj. Ömer Halisdemir after arriving at the command headquarters in Ankara during the coup attempt.
The court sentenced Furkan Aslanbay to aggravated life imprisonment for intentional killing and life imprisonment for attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. The Court of Cassation upheld both sentences.
Turkish authorities have previously said five brothers from the Aslanbay family had been placed in military schools and strategic positions through FETÖ’s alleged infiltration of state institutions. While Hasan, Hüseyin and Furkan were convicted over their roles in the coup attempt, two other brothers, Rıdvan and Enes Aslanbay, were dismissed from the military after the failed putsch.
The terrorist group orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded. Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
On the other hand, Turkish police detained seven people, including five suspects wanted or under investigation for alleged links to the FETÖ, while they were allegedly attempting to cross the country’s western border illegally, authorities said Monday.
The suspects were stopped during a joint operation by intelligence, counterterrorism and anti-migrant smuggling units on the Keşan-İpsala highway in Edirne province near the Greek border.
Among those referred to court were a dismissed specialist from the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), a former chief auditor at the Court of Accounts, a dismissed gendarmerie officer and former teachers, authorities said.
Following questioning by prosecutors and their appearance before a court, six suspects were arrested pending trial, while judicial proceedings continued for the remaining suspect.
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