Once the opposition’s only hope of beating incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the presidential candidate of a six-party alliance in 2023, fell far from leading the opposition. His fortunes vastly improved, though, as the former leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was reinstated to his post. Now, he aspires to restore the party to its heyday as the main opposition.

Turkish media outlets reported that the veteran politician will hit the road in October, seeking to reach out to the party’s dwindling supporters after the party split in July, when Kılıçdaroğlu’s successor, Özgür Özel, left to establish the New Party (YP).

Kılıçdaroğlu aims to restructure the CHP, whose leadership was taken over by Özel after a 2023 intraparty election, ahead of a planned congress. When Kılıçdaroğlu began his ambitious campaign to “cleanse” the CHP of corruption allegedly linked to Özel’s associates, including mayors arrested on bribery charges, he was branded a “traitor” by the Özel camp, which also claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu would not even go out for fear of being booed. Kılıçdaroğlu made a few field trips over the summer and managed to attract crowds, but it may take more than that to keep the CHP intact after the YP grabbed the coveted title of “main opposition” by transferring most of the CHP’s lawmakers.

Apart from a few instances, Kılıçdaroğlu has not faced a dire reaction, and in some cases, the events he attended drew large crowds. Encouraged by this, the party launched a timetable for a congress and started appointing new names to local branches.

In October, Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to visit Istanbul and the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Şırnak. Like Özel, he is expected to focus on economic issues during his revival campaign, a favorite subject of Özel in his efforts to bring the opposition to power.

In predominantly Kurdish Diyarbakır, Kılıçdaroğlu is expected to hold talks with locals on terror-free Türkiye, an initiative backed by the government to end the PKK’s campaign of terrorism, which has long exploited the Kurdish community under the guise of fighting for so-called Kurdish self-rule in the southeast.

A mayor problem

After Özel’s departure, the CHP also lost several mayors to the YP, while Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş remained. Yavaş, a possible contender for a future presidential race, is an influential figure for a party that has been reduced to a pale shade of its former self in recent months.

Yavaş, however, may leave the party soon, according to unconfirmed reports. The mayor’s meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week triggered rumors and outrage among opposition supporters who believe he may collude with the opposition’s main rival. Yavaş denied the claims, while Özel said he had been notified of the unprecedented meeting beforehand.

Yet, Yavaş’s political future remains ambiguous. Media reports say Yavaş may leave the party by the end of September. A report by broadcaster A Haber says Yavaş will be invited to a meeting of CHP mayors at the end of this month and may skip the meeting. This, in turn, will likely prompt disciplinary proceedings against Yavaş, who has remained on good terms with both the YP and CHP after the split.

A Haber reported that some CHP lawmakers lobbied for Yavaş’s expulsion from the party due to his ambiguous loyalty and that Yavaş may resign before disciplinary action is launched.

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A saga of resilience of the Turkish nation, the Battle of Sakarya is vividly remembered 105 years later. The 1921 victory over occupying Greek forces was commemorated on Sunday with a message from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who highlighted how Türkiye remained strong against its enemies.

The battle, which pitted Turkish forces under the command of the Republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, against the Greek invaders, is hailed as the penultimate push to drive out occupying forces from post-World War I Türkiye. It put an end to Greece’s ambition to capture Ankara, the future capital of the country, and forced Türkiye’s western neighbor to accelerate its retreat to the west.

Fought mainly in Polatlı, now a district of Ankara, the battle drew its name from the Sakarya River, which stretches from the northwest to the capital’s borders. “There is no line of defense, there is a field of defense, and this field is the entire homeland,” Atatürk had famously told the army before the battle, ordering troops to fight to the death, “even if you see other units falling next to you.”

The Battle of Sakarya began Aug. 23 on the banks of the Sakarya River and concluded Sept. 13, 1921, stopping the Greek advance. It was preceded by another battle in the west that had forced Turkish troops to retreat. The Turkish retreat to the east of the Sakarya River had fueled a debate in the fledgling Parliament of post-Ottoman Türkiye and dampened public morale. Seeking a firm response against the Greeks, Parliament appointed Atatürk as the commander of the army that would counter the Greek advance. Atatürk mobilized the public by issuing a series of orders calling on the nation to donate whatever they had to the army, from guns to food.

The strengthened Turkish side confronted the Greek forces south of the Sakarya front on Aug. 23, and the battle line sprawled across an area about 100 kilometers long (62 miles). Though exact figures are not known, some 14,000 soldiers died on the Turkish side, while Greek forces suffered similar losses. The battle was one of the bloodiest in the war, and Turkish forces rarely gave up the fight apart from brief retreats, despite the nation’s exhaustion from World War I. The battlefield moved to Ankara’s Haymana district in September, but the Greek offensive failed once again. Turkish forces drove the Greeks back to their defensive lines, and on Sept. 13, the entire Greek army was compelled to withdraw. One year later, again in August, Turkish forces won the last battle, the Battle of Dumlupınar, against the Greek invaders.

The victory brought Mustafa Kemal, who then held the title of Pasha, the rank of Field Marshal and the title of Ghazi, awarded by Parliament.

In his message marking the anniversary, President Erdoğan said the Battle of Sakarya, one of the greatest victories in the Turkish nation’s centuries-long struggle for independence, demonstrated the extent of the sacrifices and efforts the nation was prepared to make for its freedom and independence. Erdoğan emphasized that the Turkish nation, which showed the entire world that it could remain united even amid scarcity and under the most difficult conditions, achieved a victory at the Battle of Sakarya that would go down in the history of warfare.

“The Victory of Sakarya, which gave the nation great self-confidence on the road to the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, once again impressed upon the minds of enemy nations that Anatolia is the Turkish homeland. Drawing strength and determination from the glorious victories of our past and the rich civilization bequeathed to us by our ancestors, we will preserve our state forever and protect every inch of our homeland, whatever the cost may be. Without compromising the bloodshed of our martyrs who fell in making Anatolia our homeland, from Malazgirt to Sakarya, we will defend the rights of our beloved nation and work with all our strength to achieve our goals.

“On this occasion, I once again pray for Allah’s mercy upon all our martyrs who did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives to protect our freedom and independence and our sacred homeland. On the anniversary of the Victory of Sakarya, I commemorate with mercy and gratitude all the heroes of the War of Independence, particularly Gazi Mustafa Kemal, and extend my heartfelt greetings to all our citizens,” Erdoğan said in a written statement.

For Greece, it was part of a sequence of incidents and defeats that effectively ended its Megali Idea, a Greek nationalist concept of annexing lands where ancient Greeks lived to 20th-century Greece. Encouraged by the Ottoman Empire’s defeat in World War I and spurred by the Entente Powers’ greenlighting of a campaign into Anatolia, Greek forces managed to capture several locations in western Türkiye, most significantly Izmir on the Aegean coast.

The 1920 Treaty of Sevres, which was not recognized by the nationalist forces led by Atatürk, further paved the way for Greek advances into central Türkiye, with the ultimate purpose of capturing Ankara, the capital of Atatürk-led forces.

Today, the Battle of Sakarya is remembered in Greece as part of the “Asia Minor Catastrophe,” a series of developments that eventually forced Greece to sign the Armistice of Mudanya in 1922, which ended the Turkish-Greek conflict in the wake of World War I.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed recent attacks against Saudi Arabia and broader regional developments in a phone call with his Saudi counterpart, a Turkish diplomatic source said Friday.

Saudi Arabia said Friday it had temporarily shut its East-West Pipeline as a precaution after multiple attacks in the Riyadh and Medina regions a day earlier injured several people.

Emergency and technical teams were deployed to secure the pipeline and assess its safety, while authorities did not identify those responsible or disclose the nature of the attacks. No group has claimed responsibility.

Last month, NATO member Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a joint defense agreement that includes a mutual defense clause similar to NATO’s Article 5.

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Turkish security forces detained 20 suspects in an Istanbul-based operation across six provinces targeting the police infiltration network of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), authorities said Friday.

The operation was carried out by the Istanbul Police Department’s Anti-Smuggling Crimes Branch under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation into the terrorist group.

Investigators identified 20 suspects whose records appeared in an SD card obtained from a secret witness codenamed “Garson” (“Waiter”) according to authorities. The card contained data from the Police Infiltration Analysis Report (EMAR), which investigators have used in probes into FETÖ’s covert structure within law enforcement.

Authorities said the suspects were found to have links to members of the group’s covert networks, accounts or increased deposits at the now-defunct Bank Asya and records of sequential phone calls, a method associated with FETÖ’s clandestine communication network.

Investigators determined that the suspects allegedly operated at supervisory levels within FETÖ’s covert police network.

Police launched simultaneous raids at 21 addresses across six provinces, with Istanbul as the center of the operation.

All 20 suspects including five active public employees, three dismissed public employees and 12 private-sector workers were detained in the raids.

Codenamed “Garson,” the former member of the group behind the 2016 coup attempt, delivered an encrypted database of the group to authorities in 2017 after he agreed to be a “secret witness” in investigations against the terrorist group. The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) deciphered the database in six years and discovered 3,000 infiltrators of FETÖ within the Turkish National Police.

Statements of “Garson” indicated that FETÖ maintained surveillance on 320,000 members of the police force for 16 years, up until its notorious first attempt to topple the government in December 2013. Encrypted lists of police officers showed each was assigned a code based on their links to FETÖ or his/her opposition to the group’s infiltration.

Speaking about the lists, “Garson” told investigators that they were created by the group’s handlers of infiltrators within law enforcement and they were regularly presented to FETÖ leadership, to give insight about the scope of their infiltration. The lists contained all details about officers in terms of their affiliation with the group and rate them on their “loyalty.”

The terrorist group faced more investigations following the coup attempt that killed 251 people and injured nearly 2,200 others. Tens of thousands of people were detained, arrested or dismissed from public sector jobs following the attempt under a state of emergency.

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The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and its ally gained a majority in Istanbul’s Bahçelievler Municipal Council after three councilors from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) joined the AK Party on Thursday, marking the latest defections from the opposition.

CHP councilors Cem Şafak, Barış Ural and Levent Arısüt formally joined the AK Party during a membership ceremony organized by the party’s Bahçelievler district branch.

The defections reduced the CHP’s representation in the municipal council from 25 to 22 seats, while the People’s Alliance, led by the AK Party, increased its number of seats from 20 to 23, giving the alliance a majority in the council.

Parliament’s Justice Commission Chair and AK Party Istanbul lawmaker Cüneyt Yüksel, AK Party Istanbul provincial chair Abdullah Özdemir and Bahçelievler Mayor Hakan Bahadır attended the ceremony, where the three councilors were presented with AK Party badges.

Yüksel described the defections as part of a broader political shift, saying Türkiye needed greater dialogue and a wider common ground as it entered a new period.

“Our politics is not about exclusion. Our politics is about growth. Our politics is about building Türkiye’s common future,” Yüksel said, welcoming the new members.

AK Party Istanbul provincial chair Abdullah Özdemir also highlighted the ruling party’s record in infrastructure and public services, saying Türkiye had undergone significant development under the party’s leadership over the past 24 years.

Özdemir said Istanbul had added 85.2 kilometers (53 miles) of metro lines since 2019, compared with a total rail network of 44 kilometers (27 miles) in 2004. He also pointed to investments in highways, schools, cultural centers, youth facilities and hospitals.

“We have accomplished a great deal,” Özdemir said. “God willing, we will further expand these services.”

He also cited the physical therapy and rehabilitation hospital opened in Istanbul’s Bahçelievler district last year as an example of the government’s investments.

Turning to the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, Özdemir noted the country had made significant progress in eliminating terrorism-related security threats.

“We have reached a point where not even the slightest terrorist threat remains within our country’s borders,” he said, recalling periods when families feared for relatives serving in areas affected by terrorism.

Özdemir also pointed to developments in neighboring Syria, crediting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with playing a key role in efforts to ensure the country’s unity and territorial integrity.

“This march will continue without slowing down,” he said.

The development came as four mayors from opposition parties separately joined the AK Party on the same day.

President Erdoğan presented party badges to the mayors during a meeting of the party’s Central Decision and Management Board (MKYK).

Foça Mayor Saniye Fıçı, Akkışla Mayor Mustafa Dursun and Felahiye Mayor Şeref Güleser joined the AK Party after resigning from the CHP. Sungu Mayor Burhan Sayılgan, from the central district of eastern Muş province, joined after leaving the New Welfare Party (YRP).

The latest defections come amid changes in the balance of power in several opposition-held municipal councils.

AK Party councilor Dündar Ziya Gültekin was recently elected acting mayor of Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, while AK Party councilor Asuman Şen was elected acting mayor of Menderes in western Izmir province.

The developments have strengthened the AK Party’s position in several local councils following the 2024 local elections, when the CHP made significant gains in municipalities across Türkiye, including Istanbul.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s mood and rhetoric often take on a different tone when he visits his hometown of Rize, a Black Sea city known for its distinct culture and character.

On Friday, Erdoğan appeared particularly upbeat as he was greeted by a large crowd at a rally marking the opening of completed investments and projects in the northeastern province.

Before delivering a lengthy speech highlighting new investments and completed projects across Rize, Erdoğan emphasized national unity, referring to the “ring of fire” he has increasingly used to describe the turbulent geopolitical environment surrounding the country – from the war involving Iran and Israel’s increasingly aggressive actions in the region to instability and the presence of terrorist groups.

“On my agenda is protecting our country from the ring of fire, crises and conflicts surrounding it, and properly fulfilling the responsibility you have entrusted to us,” Erdoğan said.

He also criticized opposition parties, accusing them of seeking confrontation with the government and becoming embroiled in internal disputes.

For Erdoğan, unity has become a key theme as neighboring countries face external and internal crises. His political ally Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has also repeatedly echoed calls for unity.

“We are responsible not only to 86 million people but also to future generations. That is why we are not concerned with what the opposition says or does,” Erdoğan said.

“We are never a party to their disputes or provocations. One person said this, another did that, old friends have become enemies, and so on. None of this concerns us in the slightest.”

Erdoğan said his focus was on strengthening Türkiye’s position internationally and protecting the country from regional turmoil.

“On my agenda is bringing Türkiye to the place it deserves in global politics and ensuring that it receives the respect it deserves,” he said.

Erdoğan then turned to the main theme of the event, emphasizing his government’s focus on public services and investment.

“On my agenda is only service. It is a politics of works and service. It is bringing new investments to all 81 provinces of our country, together with Rize,” he said.

“You brought us to these positions not to act like bosses, but to serve you. We are simply doing our duty and fulfilling our responsibilities, serving you with love. As long as I have life in me, with God’s permission, we will continue working for you without stopping, without hesitation and without tiring.”

Housing and urban projects

Erdoğan said the government’s priority following the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes had been to make cities more resilient and secure, adding that projects carried out through the state-run Housing Development Administration (TOKI) had been accelerated.

He said 5,636 homes had been completed in Rize so far, while construction on another 1,221 was continuing.

As part of Friday’s openings, 465 homes, four commercial units and a mosque in the Yağlıtaş neighborhood were inaugurated, along with 79 homes in Kendirli, 143 in Madenli and 79 in the Çayeli district.

Erdoğan also inaugurated public gardens covering a total of 330,000 square meters, including the Iyidere Public Garden, which includes a public coffeehouse, district library, children’s playground and social facilities.

A public garden in Çamlıhemşin was also opened, providing residents with spaces to spend time in nature and children with areas to play.

In Güneysu, 27 temporary workplaces whose infrastructure and landscaping had been completed were handed over to beneficiaries. The Isırlık Nature Park and sports activity area, as well as the third phase of a bicycle path, were also put into service.

Culture and education

Erdoğan said culture and the arts were essential to the future of cities and announced the opening of Rize Culture Street.

“Cities that lose their connection with literature, painting and music become nothing more than buildings and gradually lose their soul,” he said.

He said the project would support local producers, expand exhibition spaces and help artisans produce and sell handmade goods, contributing to the local economy.

The government has also completed reinforcement work at 10 schools in central Rize and its districts, Erdoğan said.

The 16-classroom Hafize Haşim Haşimoğlu Anatolian Imam Hatip High School in Çamlıhemşin will open to students in the new academic year, while the 600-bed Ahmet Tevfik İleri student dormitory in central Rize has also been put into service.

Transport and infrastructure

Erdoğan said transportation, maritime and tourism projects were important not only for Rize but for the wider Black Sea region.

He said work had begun on a roughly 30-kilometer Rize Southern Ring Road and Tunnels Project, which is expected to ease traffic congestion and improve urban transportation once completed.

Significant progress has also been made on the İyidere Logistics Port Project, he said. Connecting the port to the Development Road through the Ovit route would strengthen Rize’s strategic position along international trade routes, Erdoğan added.

The government is also strengthening transportation links through the 36.5-kilometer Pazar-Ardeşen junction, the Çamlıhemşin-Ayder road and the Tunca road.

“Once our project is completed, the roads leading to Ayder and the Fırtına Valley will become faster, safer and more comfortable,” Erdoğan said.

He added that the projects aim to extend Rize’s tourism season to 12 months and make the natural attractions of Ayder more accessible.

Erdoğan said Rize had achieved significant progress in health care, with total hospital capacity reaching 1,235 beds.

He said construction of the 1,053-bed Rize City Hospital was 70% complete and that he had instructed the health minister to accelerate the remaining work.

“I have instructed my health minister to ensure that the remaining part is completed rapidly,” Erdoğan said.

The hospital, being built on an area of 320,000 square meters, is expected to provide high-level, uninterrupted health care services.

Construction is continuing on the 50-bed Çayeli State Hospital, which is scheduled to begin accepting patients in November, Erdoğan said.

He said the combined value of the Rize City Hospital and Çayeli State Hospital projects exceeds TL 25 billion ($514.365).

The government will also begin construction of the 25-bed Fındıklı State Hospital in the coming period, while Rize Training and Research Hospital will continue providing health services.

A health facility operating around the clock will also be built in Ardeşen, Erdoğan said.

Nine additional health facilities currently in the tender, project design or land allocation stages will be completed and opened as soon as possible, he added.