Ankara is talking about this name: AKP member reacts to CHP operations

While the recent operations targeting 17 CHP-run municipalities, including that of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, have caused a wide stir in public opinion, these developments have also become a subject of debate within the AKP.

Journalist Nuray Babacan included striking assessments from a prominent AKP figure in her column. The timing and scope of the operations, which have been limited specifically to CHP-run municipalities, are raising doubts even within the party.

“THE BALLOT BOX WILL BE THE APPEALS COURT FOR THIS PROCESS”

The AKP official who spoke to Babacan drew attention to the political effects of the investigations in the lead-up to the elections. The party executive, whose name was not disclosed, used the following expressions:

“These cases will take a few years. Even if they are convicted, there is an election afterward. In fact, the appeals court for these cases will be the ballot box. The election results will show how credible this process is considered by the public. If the election is held under the shadow of these debates, this may not be an advantage for the AKP.”

This statement reveals that not only the opposition but also some figures in the ruling camp are concerned about the political consequences of the judicial processes.

The same AKP official also questioned why the operations were conducted only against CHP-run municipalities. Especially regardingthe pastfilesbeing re-opened, they stated that itraisessuspicionand used the followingwords:

“If there is truly corruption, bringing files from 5-6 years ago to the agenda today loses its credibility. Citizens ask, ‘Where were the state’s audit institutions back then?’ Furthermore, the fact that not a single file has been opened regarding AKP-run municipalities and officials over the past 20 years weakens this process.”

THE LATEST STOP FOR THE OPERATIONS WAS ŞİLE

The latest target of the operations against CHP-run municipalities was Istanbul’s Şile Municipality. Following the case in which IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is being tried, the intervention in Şile has led to interpretations that the operations will continue.