Politics
Defense push, Türkiye’s role dominate NATO summit amid political divides
Speaking at the opening of the leaders’ summit of NATO in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan renewed his country’s commitment to the alliance while urging NATO members that are also EU members not to exclude Türkiye. The summit was an occasion to cement Türkiye’s role in international affairs and, beyond that, a venue to discuss the future of the alliance shaken amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a rapidly changing U.S. view of the bloc. Defense expenditures dominated the talks, which followed a defense industry forum on Wednesday where new defense deals were unveiled.
“We took measures to reach the 5% defense spending goal by 2030,” Erdoğan said as he delved into the country’s contribution to NATO. “Türkiye has taken measures to raise the ratio of our defense spending to the 3.5% level before 2030,” he added.
The president said Türkiye has already allocated 1.5% of its budget to security- and resilience-related expenditures.
He also announced that Türkiye has earmarked an additional $24 billion for its Steel Dome air and missile defense project, saying the investment is aimed at strengthening one of NATO’s most critical capability gaps. Highlighting Türkiye’s role within NATO, Erdoğan said the country, which has Europe’s largest land army, remains ready to place its military capabilities at the alliance’s disposal whenever needed. He noted that Türkiye is among the leading contributors to NATO operations, missions, and exercises in Kosovo, the Black Sea, the Baltic region, and other areas.
Erdoğan also said Türkiye hopes to secure NATO accreditation for its planned Center of Excellence for Countering Unmanned Systems, citing the country’s experience in successfully deploying unmanned aerial vehicles on real battlefields. “I believe this center will bolster our capability to counter threats posed, in particular, by aerial and maritime drones,” he added.
He called for the removal of restrictions on defense cooperation among NATO allies. “Restrictions between allies regarding defense cooperation, particularly in the defense industry, should be lifted,” Erdoğan stated. He stressed that even as European allies assume greater responsibility for the continent’s defense, they should avoid policies that could weaken NATO’s unity or transatlantic ties. “As European allies take on greater responsibility for the defense of the continent, we must refrain from measures that could undermine the alliance’s cohesion and transatlantic relations,” he said.
Türkiye and European Union countries have been at odds for years over the former’s admission to the body. Türkiye did not abandon its ambition to join the EU but has been candid on the bloc’s attempts to ignore Türkiye in terms of defense projects. Most recently, Türkiye sought to join the SAFE mechanism established to boost collaboration with non-EU countries for the defense of the continent, which came under the spotlight in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although Türkiye boasts good relations with most EU states, some countries openly oppose Türkiye’s inclusion in defense plans, namely Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, which have been hostile to Ankara’s ambition to expand its clout across the region.
Highlighting Türkiye’s growing defense sector, Erdoğan said the country’s largest achievement in recent years has been its major defense industry advances. “Undoubtedly, our country’s greatest success lies in the breakthrough we have achieved in the defense industry,” he said, adding that Türkiye has become one of the world’s top 10 countries in terms of defense production and export capacity.
Türkiye’s defense industry flourished under the leadership of Erdoğan, who prioritizes defense investments both for counterterrorism efforts and against external threats. In this context, Türkiye’s locally made arsenal played a key role in reducing the power of terrorist groups, especially in cross-border operations. Nowadays, Türkiye seeks a bloodless end to decades of violence perpetrated by the PKK, which agreed to lay down arms last year. Over the past two years, Türkiye, which was rocked by brutal attacks by the PKK, especially in the 1990s, has not witnessed any substantial acts of terrorism by the PKK.
With Steel Dome, Türkiye, which lies in close proximity to conflict-ridden countries, aims to strengthen its defenses through an integrated system. Erdoğan has earlier highlighted that Israel’s expansionism across the region may target Türkiye too in the future if the Netanyahu administration is not pressed to stop its genocidal campaign in the Palestinian territories and attacks on other countries, including Türkiye’s southern neighbor, Syria.
Trump’s complaints
A few hours before Erdoğan’s speech, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NATO as he held a joint news conference with the bloc’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte.
“I am not happy with NATO over Greenland and Iran. We are treated unfairly in NATO; we pay disproportionately,” he said. Trump aimed at NATO allies who failed to back his campaign against Iran and insisted he still wanted Greenland, calling European resistance to his stance a “big problem.”
“I’m very upset with NATO … because of what they did with Greenland, and … because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the No.1 state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran,” he said. Trump singled out Spain for particular criticism, calling it a “terrible partner in NATO.” “Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,” he said, dragging up a bitter row that also touches on Madrid’s defense spending, urging his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut it off.” And he raked up more sensitive territory by reiterating his desire for NATO member Denmark’s territory of Greenland. “Greenland is a big problem for us,” he told reporters, saying it was “very important for the United States, but it’s not important for Denmark.” “We need it for the protection of the world, not just the United States.. It doesn’t help Denmark, but it helps us.” Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a terse response to Trump’s remarks a day earlier, saying: “Greenland is, of course, not for sale.” With NATO keen to focus the U.S. leader’s attention on its surging defense budgets, stalled efforts to halt the Ukraine war were also back on the agenda, with Trump saying he believed both sides wanted to end the fighting. “I think they both want to make a deal,” said Trump, who will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later on Wednesday. With negotiations at an impasse, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin before flying to Türkiye and was to “follow up” with him after meeting Zelenskyy, a U.S. official said. Europe and Canada are set to pledge to keep military support flowing to Ukraine to the tune of 70 billion euros ($80 billion) a year in both 2026 and 2027. Trump was also scheduled to hold talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he seeks to rebuild the country’s international image as it emerges from years of Civil War. The meeting comes a day after the Syrian leader hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for a landmark state visit that was overshadowed by twin bomb attacks that wounded 18 in the capital, Damascus. Although Trump still appears rankled over restrictions some allies put on U.S. forces using bases at the start of the Iran conflict, he brought welcome news for Erdoğan, saying he would consider selling Türkiye F-35 fighter jets and would roll back sanctions.
“I don’t want to deal (with Iranians); they’re sick people,” Trump said about the war with Iran after the cease-fire between the two countries was violated overnight with U.S. strikes in Iran. Trump had nothing but good words for Türkiye, especially for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “I like President Erdoğan, he rolled out the red carpet for me. Türkiye is very strong, they’ve got the best (military) equipment,” he said.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Erdoğan said: “We will continue supporting Ukraine while steering Russia toward peace.”
“While supporting Ukraine, we are also making use of our communication channels to encourage Russia toward peace,” he said. The Turkish president also endorsed Trump’s efforts to end the conflict. “We share Mr. Trump’s vision for peace in the Ukraine war and express our support for the initiative addressing Ukraine’s priority needs,” Erdoğan said.
The president also commented on developments in the Middle East. “I appreciate President Trump’s stand on the resolution of the U.S.-Iran conflict,” he said. “I would also like to state that it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure calm, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon.”
“The two-state solution (between Palestine and Israel) is key for lasting peace in the Middle East,” he also stated. Erdoğan also urged NATO allies to stand in “full solidarity” against terrorism.
The Turkish president also welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s “firm stance” for resolving tensions involving Iran.
“I appreciate the resolute stance supported by my friend Mr. Trump, which has helped put the resolution of the Iran crisis on the right track, despite attempts at sabotage,” Erdoğan said.
Türkiye stands ready to contribute to efforts to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, he added.
Turkish security forces detained 48 suspected migrant smugglers in operations across 23 provinces, the Interior Ministry announced Monday, as authorities intensified efforts against irregular migration and organized smuggling networks.
Thirty-one of the suspects were formally arrested following judicial proceedings, while 17 were released under judicial supervision, the ministry said in a statement.
The operations were coordinated by the Gendarmerie General Command’s Department of Combating Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking and the Turkish Coast Guard Command.
Raids and enforcement operations were carried out in the provinces of Ağrı, Ankara, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bitlis, Çanakkale, Düzce, Edirne, Erzurum, Hatay, Izmir, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Konya, Manisa, Muğla, Siirt, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, Tunceli and Van.
Authorities used both aerial and ground surveillance during the operations. Unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the Gendarmerie General Command conducted surveillance from the air, while provincial gendarmerie units carried out operations on the ground.
Public security, highway patrol and commando units also participated, while Coast Guard personnel supported coordinated operations targeting maritime smuggling routes.
Security forces seized 83 vehicles and 18 boats and boat engines believed to have been used in migrant smuggling activities, the ministry said.
All 48 suspects detained during the operations were subjected to judicial proceedings.
Türkiye has stepped up operations targeting networks accused of facilitating irregular migration, particularly in provinces along its land and maritime borders and along major transit routes.
The Interior Ministry said authorities would continue operations against irregular migration and migrant smuggling networks to protect public order and national security.
The ministry said its approach to combating irregular migration would continue to prioritize human rights while maintaining public order and safeguarding the country’s national interests.
It also thanked personnel from the Gendarmerie, Coast Guard and migrant smuggling and human trafficking units involved in the operations.
Separately, in the central Turkish province of Nevşehir, a suspect accused of transporting four irregular migrants and agreeing to take them from Sivas to Nevşehir for TL 50,000 ($1,040) per person was formally arrested by a court.
As part of a joint operation against migrant smuggling by the Nevşehir Provincial Police Department’s Intelligence Branch and the Department of Combating Migrant Smuggling and Border Gates, police placed the suspect, identified as Hüseyin Ö., under surveillance.
Authorities determined during questioning that Hüseyin Ö. had agreed to transport the four irregular migrants from Sivas to Nevşehir for TL 50,000 per person.
The suspect was detained and referred to a courthouse after procedures at the police station. A court subsequently ordered his arrest and he was sent to prison.
Deportation proceedings have been initiated for the four illegal migrants.
On Saturday, the Turkish Coast Guard also rescued 37 irregular migrants, including three children, from a rubber boat off the coast of Didim in the western province of Aydın after they were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities.
Coast Guard boats were dispatched after receiving information about a group of irregular migrants aboard a rubber boat off Didim.
The Coast Guard rescued all 37 migrants from the vessel.
A Turkish financial crimes report has detailed on Monday extensive property transactions, multimillion-lira bank transfers and vehicle purchases involving the family and close associates of Alihan Kuriş, the alleged leader of a criminal organization under investigation by Ankara prosecutors.
The report by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), dated Aug. 20, was prepared as part of an investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into alleged laundering of criminal proceeds, fraud causing losses to public institutions and violations of the Tax Procedure Law.
Prosecutors requested an examination of changes in the wealth and assets of Kuriş and his relatives since Jan. 1, 2016.
MASAK examined assets, bank transactions, vehicles, company partnerships and property transfers involving Kuriş, his wife, parents, brother and grandmother, as well as his wife’s parents and sibling.
According to the report, land registry records showed a combined 1,818 property transactions involving four family members.
Kuriş’s mother, identified by the initials A.G.D.K., had 646 property transaction records, while his late grandmother, N.K., had 539. His father, M.S.K., had 207 transactions, while his father-in-law, M.K., had 426.
The transactions involving Kuriş’s mother covered a wide range of properties, including homes, offices, shops, workshops, restaurants, agricultural land and plots. Some were acquired through inheritance or transfers from relatives, while other properties were subsequently transferred to third parties or companies, according to the report.
MASAK found 27 properties registered to Kuriş’s father, 21 of which carried annotations or seizure orders.
The properties included apartments, plots, agricultural land, office and commercial premises and several multistory buildings. One property carried 38 enforcement liens and 72 public liens as well as multiple mortgage records, the report said.
Records also showed transfers involving Kuriş, his brother Hilmi Tuna Kuriş and their mother following their father’s death.
Property transactions involving Hilmi Tuna Kuriş intensified between 2024 and 2026, according to the report.
MASAK also said his banking transfers reached tens of millions of Turkish liras. Some properties linked to him were subject to enforcement liens, precautionary measures and two separate seizure orders.
The report also highlighted a transaction involving Kuriş’s wife, who had no real estate registered in her name but owned two vehicles.
On Sept. 5, 2023, TL 2.4 million (around $50,000) was transferred to his wife’s account by a third party, Mehmet Özmen. Almost the entire amount was transferred the same day to an automotive company, according to MASAK.
Investigators are examining why Özmen financed the vehicle and whether there was a legal or commercial relationship between the parties.
MASAK records also showed two luxury vehicles from the 2023 and 2024 model years registered to A.N.B.
Investigators are examining the source of funds behind the property purchases, vehicles, company interests and increased banking activity as part of the broader probe into Kuriş and his alleged organization.
Alihan Kuriş, the de facto leader of a group known publicly as “Süleymancılar,” was arrested last week along with other suspects.
The group originated as a religious movement named after 20th-century Islamic scholar Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan, Kuriş’s great-grandfather.
Initially operating through informal religious instruction in homes and mosques, the group later expanded across Türkiye through Quran courses and student dormitories, largely financed by membership contributions and donations. Over time, its activities expanded into commercial sectors including food, health care, tourism, textiles, construction and real estate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva discussed bilateral relations and regional and global developments in a phone call, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Monday.
Erdoğan welcomed the continued development of relations between Türkiye and Brazil, saying ties that were elevated to an advanced level two decades ago have continued to strengthen.
The Turkish president said deepening cooperation in a broad range of areas, particularly investment, trade and the defense industry, would benefit both countries, according to the statement.
Erdoğan also emphasized the potential for stronger economic ties between Ankara and Brasilia amid growing protectionist tendencies in the global economy.
He said he believed Türkiye and Brazil could develop a model of economic cooperation that would increase the prosperity of both countries while countering protectionist trends.
The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues.
Erdoğan said Türkiye and Brazil’s policies prioritizing peace in addressing regional and international challenges contributed to global peace.
Türkiye and Brazil have sought to expand bilateral economic and political relations in recent years while also cooperating through multilateral platforms on international issues.
As Israel’s expansionist policies threaten the stability of the wider region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further stokes the fire. Netanyahu is currently running his election campaign on anti-Türkiye rhetoric after being forced under U.S. pressure to stop attacks on Iran and Lebanon.
The prime minister, whose name has been linked to corruption allegations and whose party has fallen in public opinion polls, has long sought to avoid prison. He became the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption. The architect of the genocide in the Gaza Strip, who is responsible for the deaths of more than 73,000 Palestinians (most of them women and children), has been criticized even in Israel for “setting the region on fire to protect his seat.”
Netanyahu’s Likud party is currently the largest party in Israel’s 120-seat parliament with 32 seats. But opinion polls for elections scheduled for Oct. 27 show Likud falling from 32 seats to 23 and becoming the second-largest party. Polls also show Likud and Netanyahu’s far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners falling far below the 61 seats needed to form a government. A poll published by Israel’s Channel 13 on Aug. 19 showed Netanyahu and his coalition partners winning a total of only 51 seats.
Amid these developments, Netanyahu and his team turned to anti-Türkiye rhetoric. The signals came weeks before Israel’s Aug. 18 attack on the inactive Abu al-Duhur military air base in Syria’s Idlib province.
Amichai Chikli, a Likud lawmaker and diaspora minister, claimed in a radio interview in June that Israel would “sooner or later enter a war with Syria.” “Türkiye and Syria are far more disturbing developments than Iran,” Chikli said. Chikli, who often draws attention with anti-Türkiye posts, also voiced unease over the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. He said Saudi Arabia’s move to act with Türkiye was a “very bad development” for Israel.
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, one of Netanyahu’s closest figures, has also emerged as a leading figure using anti-Türkiye rhetoric against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the election campaign. Katz frequently targets Türkiye and Erdoğan on social media, and many of his posts are written in Turkish.
Eli Cohen, a Likud lawmaker and energy minister, also signaled last month that anti-Türkiye rhetoric would be used in the campaign. “If Türkiye establishes a base in Syria, we will establish one too,” Cohen told a local radio station.
Some opposition leaders and analyses published in Israel agree that Netanyahu and people close to him have turned the attack in Syria into an election campaign tactic by using anti-Türkiye rhetoric. Democrats party leader Yair Golan said Netanyahu made an “arrogant and dangerous” move with the attack. Golan said Israel “raised tensions with Türkiye and deepened the rift with the U.S.,” stressing that Netanyahu used military force for political calculations and that Tel Aviv paid the price in security terms.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Netanyahu was pursuing a policy of reaching voters through security tensions ahead of the Oct. 27 elections.
Israeli political commentator Esther Solomon said in an analysis published in Haaretz newspaper that Netanyahu had failed to get the poll results he wanted “despite all his efforts” before the elections. Solomon said Netanyahu was trying to gain more votes by using every front to “overwhelm, surprise, and wear down the opposition” to build momentum for his party before the elections.
Another political commentator, Jonathan Lis, said in Haaretz that political considerations also played a role in Netanyahu’s decision-making process alongside security and diplomatic parameters. “As Israel’s October elections approach, it is highly suspicious that Netanyahu would want an escalation of tensions with Türkiye and Syria, especially as the Trump administration encourages calm between the parties,” Lis said.
The election campaign built on anti-Türkiye rhetoric in Israel is not limited to statements by Netanyahu and figures close to him. Channel 14 television, known for its closeness to Netanyahu, targeted Türkiye’s Consulate General in occupied East Jerusalem, which represents Palestine. A Channel 14 report claimed “unauthorized renovation” was being carried out in the building housing Türkiye’s Consulate General in Jerusalem. The report said the Israeli-affiliated Jerusalem Municipality was not allowed to inspect the site and broadcast exterior footage of the consulate building.
In addition, i24 television aired a documentary claiming Türkiye was trying to take control of East Jerusalem by focusing on the activities of Turkish institutions and associations in the city. The documentary gave broad coverage to humanitarian aid provided by Turkish institutions and associations to Palestinians in the city and also included the activities of the Yunus Emre Cultural Center in East Jerusalem.
A new Likud billboard in Tel Aviv features Erdoğan alongside Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani under the message, “They want Netanyahu to lose. Don’t let them win.”
‘Cheap politics’
Netanyahu is seeking to portray Türkiye as a new threat as part of “cheap politics” aimed at gaining an electoral advantage, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Friday, warning that Israel’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric poses serious risks to regional and global stability.
The directorate strongly rejected recent remarks by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office concerning Erdoğan, describing them as an “impertinent rant” devoid of historical facts and political seriousness, and another sign of the desperation of an administration seeking to evade accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It said the “cheap politics” pursued by Netanyahu and his associates, which it said was also designed to secure an advantage in elections, has no resonance in Israeli society, the region, the international community, or Türkiye.
The directorate said the remarks by an Israeli government facing genocide accusations before international justice mechanisms were a telling demonstration of how deeply Türkiye’s voice and Erdoğan’s refusal to remain silent in the face of injustice have unsettled the Netanyahu administration.
It also warned that Israel’s election campaign has increasingly fallen under the influence of irresponsible security-driven populism and an intensifying politics of threats. “The Netanyahu government’s effort to construct Türkiye as a new threat figure is also part of this cheap politics,” the directorate said.
It warned that pursuing a politics of threats and escalating tensions for the sake of domestic political competition carries serious risks not only for Israeli society but also for regional and global peace and stability.
Türkiye will continue, as it has in the past, to stand against oppressors and alongside the oppressed, and firmly defend peace, justice, and stability in the region regardless of the cost, the directorate said.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz will chair the first meeting of the “Board of Monitoring and Assessment” on Monday, established within the framework of the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion. The law and the board are the culmination of a monthslong process called terror-free Türkiye, which aims for the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK. The PKK succumbed to calls for dissolution in 2025 after years of violence, and its members are expected to surrender to authorities after the new law was introduced earlier this month. The law is applicable only after verification of the PKK’s full disarmament, which is currently monitored by authorities.
The board has the ministers of justice, foreign affairs, interior, and national defense among its members, along with the presidency’s secretary-general, the intelligence chief, and the secretary-general of the National Security Board (NSB).
Turkish media outlets reported that the first meeting will focus on the establishment of lower boards that will address different aspects of the initiative. The first one to be established will be tasked with coordinating the handover of weapons possessed by the PKK and on-site verification mechanisms to that extent. Most PKK members are holed up in northern Iraq, in a mountainous territory where the group apparently has a complex cave system used as a hideout. The lower board will discuss and determine where and when the weapons will be handed over to authorities. A separate lower board will be tasked with judicial proceedings for PKK members who turn themselves in, and this board will receive input from judicial members in charge of the initiative. According to media reports, this board will also be tasked with classifying the legal files of each PKK member and determining how they can benefit from the new law.
The law includes 12 articles and offers exemption from prosecution for PKK members for a limited time, but only if they are not involved in acts of terrorism and other grave offenses. The deferrals will remain at the discretion of judges, however.
A separate board is scheduled to be created for the social integration and rehabilitation of PKK members who volunteer to return to Türkiye. Experts from the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of Health will support this board. Another working board will be responsible for registering PKK members applying for deferrals.
The board led by Yılmaz will regularly brief parliament on its work, while parliament will establish a Monitoring Committee responsible for the next stage of the initiative.
Steps to be taken are contingent upon the publication of an NSB decision confirming that the PKK has laid down its arms. The law includes a stay of prosecution and deferral of sentence execution for PKK members who apply within six months.
The law includes temporary provisions regarding crimes committed within the scope of or in favor of the activities of the PKK and its affiliates. Investigations, prosecutions, and the execution of finalized sentences may be deferred for five or 10 years, depending on the nature of the crime and the severity of the sentence, under the new law.
Intentional homicide committed within the scope of organizational activity, as well as offenses committed before June 1, 2005, that require life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment, will be excluded. Consequently, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan will not be eligible for these provisions. Those who have committed the crime of “intentional homicide” will also remain outside the scope.
Terror-free Türkiye will be on the agenda of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when he visits eastern Türkiye this week on the occasion of the anniversary of a Seljuk battle that cemented Turkish rule in the country 955 years ago. Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli, head of the government’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who is credited with launching the terror-free Türkiye initiative, have been a staple of events in the towns of Ahlat and Malazgirt (the latter being the site of the Battle of Manzikert between the Seljuk army and the Byzantine army). Erdoğan is also expected to chair a meeting of his Cabinet in Ahlat. Since 2024, the two men have devoted their keynote speeches there to the initiative. Erdoğan highlighted a “common homeland and common future” in his 2024 speech, and his 2025 message at the celebrations focused on the lasting coexistence of Turks, Kurds, and Arabs in the region. Erdoğan and Bahçeli promote the initiative as something that unifies Turks and Kurds. The PKK started out as a self-styled Kurdish movement and claimed to fight for Kurdish rights and a “Kurdistan” state in eastern Türkiye, where both Ahlat and Malazgirt are located.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu aspires to cement his place in the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which was downgraded from its main opposition status. The former chair, who was reinstated to the post last May by a court verdict, will convene the central administrative board and party assembly on Wednesday, focusing on a road map for the future of the party. The CHP fell behind in the number of parliamentary seats after Kılıçdaroğlu’s predecessor, Özgür Özel, founded the New Party (YP) with lawmakers transferred from the CHP.
The Central Administrative Board meeting will discuss a timetable for the party’s next convention and set the dates for provincial and district congresses, ahead of the September launch of the process leading up to the next election. Kılıçdaroğlu is so far uncontested, as Özel, who repeatedly called on him to hold an extraordinary congress, gave up and went on to establish the YP.
In the meantime, Kılıçdaroğlu pursues redemption and reckoning. At the party assembly meeting, the CHP will discuss increasing the number of provincial and district board members and pardoning some members facing disciplinary proceedings or expulsion, according to a report by Anadolu Agency (AA). Kılıçdaroğlu has pledged to “cleanse” the party of corruption linked to mayors and other top figures and has launched an expulsion process for many loyalists of Özel who were entangled in corruption investigations.
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