Politics
Diaspora encourages Bulgaria’s Turkish community to vote
Bulgaria will hold yet another election on April 19. The eighth vote in six years is crucial for the Turkish community in the Balkan country. Associations founded in Türkiye by the Bulgarian Turkish community with dual citizenship seek to promote voting among the community.
Şükrü Ar, chair of Balkan Turks Culture and Solidarity Association (BALTÜRK), told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they attached importance to voting for fair representation of Turks in the Bulgarian Parliament. Ar noted that turnout decreased in subsequent elections, as people were tired of having one after another since 2020. “The turnout dropped as low as 30%. None of the governments winning the elections managed to be lasting. Coalition governments collapsed repeatedly,” he lamented.
Ar said on Wednesday that Bulgaria also limited the number of ballot boxes for elections in countries outside the European Union, citing a recent amendment to electoral laws. He said people were still willing to vote.
“As BALTÜRK, we will be working intensely on that day, but we have already planned what needs to be done beforehand to encourage our people and get them to the polls. We will have shuttle services in coordination with our Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality,” he said, referring to the city where the association is based and host to a community with dual citizenship.
“We will hold one-on-one meetings. We will encourage voting. We will provide all kinds of assistance to our citizens. If necessary, we will transport them in personal vehicles. We will meet all their needs,” he said.
Ar, noting that electronic voting is used in Bulgarian elections, said they would also provide assistance to voters for this process.
Touching upon the fact that most people have dozens or even hundreds of relatives still living in Bulgaria, Ar said: “Our relatives living there, and the Turkish and Muslim community living there, have acquired rights, and there are more rights that need to be acquired. The stronger we stand in Türkiye, and if we go to the ballot box to cast our vote without saying ‘it’s just one vote,’ our Turkish and Muslim community living in Bulgaria, who use their acquired rights and need to reclaim even more, will be stronger. They will feel our support better. Therefore, we must absolutely go to the polls.”
Ragıp Çavuş, one of the dual citizens, stated that he has voted in all Bulgarian elections and noted that every single vote is important for both protecting existing rights in Bulgaria and gaining new ones.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday urged the parties in the U.S.-Israel-Iran war to proceed with cease-fire talks. “You can’t negotiate with clenched fists; the window of opportunity for a cease-fire should be taken advantage of,” he told the parliamentary group meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Ankara.
“Israel is not satisfied with the cease-fire. It should not be allowed to undermine the process,” he said.
Erdoğan also hit back at the Israeli administration, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insulted the Turkish president on social media. “Nobody can wag a finger at Türkiye,” he said.
The Turkish leader said that Türkiye is making the “necessary appeals and initiatives” to reduce tensions, extend the cease-fire, and continue talks over the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
“The Israeli government, which is known to be unhappy with the cease-fire process, must not be allowed to sabotage it,” Erdoğan added.
Erdoğan also praised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, saying he “congratulates from the heart my dear friend Sanchez, who has taken a firm stance against the threats of butcher Netanyahu in Gaza.”
Regarding regional stability, he said: “If there is to be peace in our region, it will be despite the Zionist regime. If stability is achieved, it will again be despite the Israeli government.”
“We will continue to call the oppressor an oppressor, the pirate a pirate, and the killer a killer, and to be the voice of the children of Gaza and to listen to the cries of mothers whose hearts are burning,” he added.
Erdoğan said Türkiye would also “continue to defend the rights of our brothers whose lands are occupied in the West Bank and to be the follower of the cause of children killed in their sleep in Lebanon.”
“We are always ready to be the voice of peace and to lead peace efforts with the principle of peace at home, peace in the region, and peace in the world,” he stressed.
Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism directed at him and Türkiye, Erdoğan said: “I remind the ‘baby killers’ who speak against me and our country of some facts: The Republic of Türkiye is not an ordinary state.”
Türkiye is a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause and often voices opposition to the genocide being committed by Israel, with which it has cut off ties. The principled stand against the genocide in Gaza and aggressive expansionism by Israel in Lebanon and elsewhere gave rise to further hostility against Türkiye by the Netanyahu administration. The Israeli prime minister often targets Erdoğan through social media posts while pro-Netanyahu media outlets in Israel speculate that the two countries may engage in an all-out conflict in the near future.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday slammed Netanyahu for remarks targeting Erdogan, saying targeting the Turkish leader is a result of “the discomfort caused by the truths we have expressed on every platform.”
Netanyahu, who is called the Adolf Hitler of this era due to his crimes, is known for his records, said the ministry in a statement. Noting the arrest warrant that has been issued for Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the statement warned about Netanyahu’s attempts, which aim to undermine the ongoing peace talks and continue his expansionist policies in the region. The statement further reiterated Türkiye’s determination in its efforts to hold Netanyahu accountable for his crimes, along with supporting innocent civilians.
To the applause of the AK Party supporters, Erdoğan delivered a lengthy speech peppered with verses from the national anthem, challenging Israel’s threats.
He stated that their calm and prudent demeanor should not be mistaken for weakness, emphasizing that they would consider it a great honor to lie beneath the soil with dignity rather than live dishonorably above it. “We are the children of a heroic nation whose National Anthem begins with ‘Do not fear.”
Erdoğan underlined that humanity’s longing for peace, stability, security and a measure of tranquility is being undermined by circles that thrive on bloodshed and chaos, adding that the most recent example is the unlawful war that began on Feb 28 and brought the region to the brink. He stated that over time, it has become clear who wanted the war, who provoked it and who profited from it. The president said their early assessment regarding the role of the Zionist lobby has proven justified.
Turkish-Kurdish unity
Netanyahu’s remarks on social media have accused Türkiye of “massacring Kurds.”
Erdoğan hit back at the allegation while touting the terror-free Türkiye initiative. The initiative, launched by Türkiye two years ago, aims to disarm the PKK terrorist group, which has killed tens of thousands of people since the 1980s under the pretext of fighting for the rights of Türkiye’s Kurdish community.
Erdoğan highlighted that the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood was “a thousand-year-old” and noted that the terror-free Türkiye initiative was the nation’s “best line of defense for unity at a time of exposure of dirty plots,” he said.
“Those disturbed by the initiative no longer hide their opposition. Those with the blood of 73,000 Gazans in their hands are not ashamed of defaming our country by using the name of our Kurdish brothers.”
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is facing growing internal tensions as allegations of corruption and a wave of expulsions deepen divisions within the party, according to statements from party figures and local media reports.
According to Sabah newspaper, the developments come as CHP leadership has repeatedly denied allegations linked to ongoing corruption investigations involving party-affiliated municipalities. Despite rejecting the claims, critics within the party say members who have called for internal accountability are being sidelined or expelled.
Özgür Özel, who has led the party since late 2023, recently reiterated a pledge to introduce a “political ethics law,” emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in public office. However, some former members argue that this stance contradicts actions taken within the party.
Among the critics is Gürsel Tekin, who said a significant number of members have been expelled during Özel’s tenure without clear justification. Tekin claimed that more than 1,600 individuals were removed after voicing concerns about alleged misconduct or calling for reform.
Other figures, including journalist Mustafa Yavuz, also criticized the leadership, saying internal dissent has been suppressed. Yavuz argued that those advocating for reform have been excluded, raising concerns about internal party democracy.
The party has not publicly detailed the reasons behind the reported expulsions, and officials have not responded directly to the specific allegations raised by former members.
More than 20 mayors governing CHP municipalities were detained or arrested in the past two years on charges of corruption, along with dozens of municipal bureaucrats.
Another challenge for the CHP is a trial on vote-buying allegations regarding the intra-party election in 2023 that brought Özel to power. A recent hearing on the trial has been postponed to May 6. In the trial, Özel and his associates are accused of buying votes of delegates to oust former Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the upcoming NATO and COP31 summits in Ankara while highlighting strong cooperation potential in defense, energy and aviation, the Presidential Communications Directorate said Wednesday.
In a phone call with Carney, Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye places great importance on advancing ties with Canada and pointed to significant opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the defense industry, energy and air transportation sectors.
He also reaffirmed Türkiye’s continued efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region, noting that Ankara and Ottawa share aligned views on many global and regional issues.
The Turkish president expressed Ankara’s intention to host Carney for an official visit before the end of 2026, according to the statement.
Türkiye will host the leaders’ summit of the alliance for the second time in more than two decades. Heads of state and top figures from member countries will be in the capital Ankara for the summit scheduled to be held on July 7-8. Some 6,000 participants are expected to attend the event.
The European Commission said Thursday that Greece must investigate allegations that its police used masked migrants to forcibly push back other migrants toward the Turkish border, following a report by the BBC.
Commission spokesperson Magnus Brunner told reporters in Brussels that the EU executive was aware of the claims but stressed that examining such allegations falls under the responsibility of the member state concerned.
“It is for member states to investigate these reports, establish all the facts and ensure that appropriate action is taken in case of any violations,” Brunner said, adding that the commission did not have additional information on the specific case.
He underlined that while the management and protection of the EU’s external borders is primarily the responsibility of member states, it must be carried out in line with EU law and fundamental rights obligations.
Brunner also noted that border management operations are supported by Frontex, the bloc’s border agency, and financed through EU instruments, emphasizing that such activities must always respect fundamental rights.
The comments followed a report published on April 14 by the BBC, which said it had uncovered evidence suggesting that Greek police recruited migrants to assist in pushback operations targeting other migrants attempting to cross into Greece.
According to the report, internal police documents indicated that the practice may have taken place with the knowledge of senior officials. Witnesses cited in the report alleged that migrants were subjected to abuse, including beatings, theft and mistreatment, and that such practices may have been ongoing since at least 2020.
Allegations of pushbacks involving Greek authorities and Frontex have been widely reported since 2020, drawing criticism and prompting investigations in Brussels. Previous reports, supported by witness testimonies, video footage and satellite imagery, have documented incidents in which migrant boats in the Aegean Sea were intercepted, damaged or forced back toward Turkish waters.
Despite past inquiries concluding that safeguards to prevent fundamental rights violations were insufficient, allegations of pushbacks have continued to surface.
“Pushback” is a controversial and illegal practice, but Greece has repeatedly engaged in it, according to reports by human rights organizations monitoring migrant flow into Greece that escalated in the past decade.
Many boatloads of migrants attempt to make the dangerous sea crossing to reach the Greek islands from the Turkish coast, hoping to eventually make their way to prosperous European Union countries.
Others attempt to enter Greece by crossing the Maritsa (Meriç) River that runs along the land border between the two countries.
The Mediterranean Turkish city of Antalya will host the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum, an annual event that brings together heads of state and other top officials from around the world.
The forum is a hallmark of Türkiye’s rising role in global affairs and comes at a time of tensions in the Middle East. It will be an occasion for talks between the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan for efforts to prevent the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and proposals to ensure a lasting cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran. Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in the process. Officials said a second round of talks between Iran and the U.S. could take place in Islamabad “very soon” at Pakistan’s invitation, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is expected to visit Türkiye after Saudi Arabia, while Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will also host his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt for talks on a cease-fire and the situation in Hormuz. The diplomatic push follows a two-week cease-fire secured last week after weeks of escalating hostilities. Iranian authorities say more than 3,300 people have been killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes since Feb. 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, Iraq, Jordan and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets before the cease-fire took effect. Despite the pause in fighting, officials say the situation remains fragile, with renewed negotiations seen as critical to preventing further escalation.
Distinguished guests
The forum will be a showcase of Türkiye’s alliances. More than 20 heads of state and more than 40 ministers confirmed participation. Among them are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Sharif, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Libyan Prime Minister of the National Unity government Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Nechirwan Barzani of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Moldova’s Maia Sandu and Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman.
As for diplomats, the forum will be among the rare occasions where foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine, currently engaged in a war, attend the same event. Elsewhere, Qatar, Türkiye’s key ally in the Gulf, will be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein and Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi are among the ministers attending the forum. Top diplomats from Uzbekistan, Sudan and Kyrgyzstan will also participate in the event.
The annual event will mark its fifth edition at a time of raging conflicts in the region and talk of a “new order” with major shifts in ties. This year’s theme is fittingly “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”
At the forum, Türkiye aims to highlight its vision for diplomacy and peace as Ankara has raised its profile as a key mediator in conflicts in recent years.
With Israel’s aggressive expansionism threatening to further destabilize the region, from the Gulf to Syria and Iran, Türkiye promotes itself as an oasis of stability. The forum will be a platform for Ankara to showcase this vision, discussing sharpening the foresight for future challenges and efficient ways to address those issues.
Türkiye is engaged in a diplomatic blitz on multiple fronts, from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. Under the leadership of Erdoğan, the country seeks a mediator role in conflicts threatening the region and the international community while striving to remain neutral. Over the past two decades, it has become a key actor in international affairs, utilizing its location as a bridge between Europe and Asia and its ability to maintain dialogue with opposite sides of conflicts. This was most evident in its mediating role between Russia and Ukraine. It is the only country that managed to preserve good ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As for the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, the country balances its ties with NATO ally the U.S. and its eastern neighbor Iran successfully as it yearns to bring the sides to the negotiation table.
The Turkish Parliament will establish a parliamentary commission to investigate school attacks following a deadly shooting in Kahramanmaraş, with all parties agreeing to jointly address security concerns and prevent future incidents.
The decision came after lawmakers called for a pause in ongoing legislative discussions in the General Assembly following the attack at a middle school in Kahramanmaraş.
Nine people were killed, and at least 20 others were injured after a student aged about 13 opened fire in Ayşel Çalık Middle School in Kahramanmaraş. The fatal attack took place just one day after another shooter wounded 16 people and then killed himself in a school in the Şanlıurfa province a day earlier.
Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan suspended the session for 10 minutes to hold consultations with party representatives after opposition groups urged lawmakers to prioritize the issue.
Following the break, the parliament resumed its work and agreed to carry out a comprehensive, cross-party effort to examine the causes of school violence and strengthen safety measures. The commission is expected to be formally established next Tuesday.
Lawmakers emphasized that the issue requires a multidimensional approach, including legal, psychological and social aspects, as well as the role of families and social media.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials said all political groups reached a common understanding to address the matter, noting that Parliament will conduct an in-depth review and develop proposals to enhance student safety across the country.
School shootings in Türkiye had been rare until this week. In May 2024, a former student killed a private high school principal in Istanbul with a firearm five months after he was expelled.
Türkiye has strict gun laws that require licensing, registration, mental and criminal background checks, and severe penalties for illegal possession.
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