New pressure move against CHP: Is the Istanbul Provincial Congress the next target?
As the CHP completes its delegate process through neighborhood elections and prepares for its regular congress in the winter months, investigations regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress are casting a shadow over the party. Preparations for an indictment and testimonies taken have stirred up the political corridors.
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The CHP is continuing its neighborhood elections to determine the delegates who will elect district chairs. With this process, the party is preparing to hold its ordinary congress in the winter months. It is noted that the congress process will largely be shaped by the Istanbul Provincial Congress.
The ordinary congress held in 2023 became the subject of an investigation following a file sent from Bursa to Ankara. Two separate lawsuits were filed regarding the congress: one is a criminal case, and the other is a lawsuit for the annulment of the congress. The annulment case will be heard on September 15, while the court date for the criminal case has not yet been finalized.
During the same period, an investigation has been ongoing for a long time regarding the CHP's Istanbul Provincial Congress. Within the scope of the investigation, which was conducted with confidentiality for a while by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, CHP members and individuals such as Tolgahan Erdoğan, who previously testified as a witness in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) and congress investigations, have also provided statements.
Within the scope of the investigation, the Istanbul Provincial Congressfor which many CHP mayorsgave testimonies that led to arreststhe testimony of Aziz İhsan Aktaş has also been included in the precautionary lawsuit. It is stated that Aktaş's statements could also be added to the criminal case and may be taken again.
In political circles, it is being discussed that the file regarding the provincial congress will be among the indictments to be prepared in Istanbul. CHP members believe that the ordinary congress process is largely being attempted to be shaped through the Istanbul Provincial Congress.
CHP members state that there is an attempt to expand the investigation, particularly through the imprisoned Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat. It is expressed that due to Akpolat's clear stance, there is a desire to conduct the process through a different channel, and at this point, an attempt is being made to make Aziz İhsan Aktaş the focus of both the criminal and precautionary lawsuits.
According to a report by Halk TV, it is being discussed in political circles that the government, thinking that the desired results will not be achieved in the ongoing cases in Ankara, is looking for new ways to increase pressure on the CHP.