Muharrem İnce's statement on Özlem Çerçioğlu, who is claimed to be joining AKP

Muharrem İnce, in a post on his social media account, addressed claims that CHP's Aydın Metropolitan Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu would be joining the AKP.

Drawing attention to party-state relations, judicial independence, and political pressure, İnce wrote: "If the party becomes the state, and the state is governed like a party; if the judiciary becomes the palace's club; then the fear spreads — either you come to us, or you go to prison."

İnce stated that this situation is incompatible with democracy, adding: "This is neither politics nor democracy — this is simply a base, not a fair, order aimed at protecting those who are one of your own, those who cross over to your side, no matter what they do."

Parti, Devlet haline gelirse, Devlet de parti gibi yönetilirse; yargı; sarayın sopası haline gelirse; ya bize geleceksin ya cezaevine gireceksin korkusu yayılır.
Bu ne siyasettir ne demokrasidir, bu düpedüz kendinden olanı, kendine geçeni ne yaparsa yapsın korumaya, kollamaya,…

— Muharrem İnce (@vekilince) August 13, 2025