What will happen in politics after the Akın Gürlek appointment? Early election claim from İsmail Saymaz

Journalist İsmail Saymaz addressed the appointment of Akın Gürlek to the Ministry of Justice within the framework of judicial practices in Istanbul, ongoing lawsuits concerning the CHP, and the approaching election process. Saymaz stated that this appointment should not be viewed merely as an administrative change, but as a move that could have political consequences.

"ARE THE TWO APPOINTMENTS A MOVE TOWARD AN EARLY ELECTION?"

Reminding that the Parliament must decide on an early election for the President to be a candidate again, Saymaz suggested that the recent changes in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior could be read from an electoral perspective. Saymaz expressed the following:

"It is more likely to happen in November 2027. Because the AK Party came to power on November 3, 2002. In other words, they would want to go to the polls again on the 25th anniversary. From this point on, the measures taken in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior are interpreted somewhat in this way."

Saymaz recalled that AKP Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş had also recently pointed to an early election for November 2027.

A NEW AND DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR THE CHP AS THE ELECTION APPROACHES?

Stating that there have been different judicial approaches between the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to date, Saymaz said that the practice in Istanbul has been able to produce more politically motivated decisions. Expressing that this approach could now be carried over to the central bureaucracy, Saymaz stated that new developments could occur regarding lawsuits against the CHP and debates over the appointment of trustees.

Emphasizing that the nullity lawsuit regarding the CHP's grand congress and the notification of "party closure" made to the Court of Cassation are of critical importance for Turkish politics, Saymaz stated that these processes could take a direction similar to the practices in Istanbul.

Recalling the municipal investigations centered in Istanbul, Saymaz stated that it is possible for these files to spread to different provinces. He said he would not be surprised if investigations into various CHP-run municipalities, especially the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, were to accelerate.

Drawing attention to the difference between judicial practices in Istanbul and Ankara, Saymaz made the following assessment:

"The Istanbul judicial practice can take more politically motivated decisions. Ankara, on the other hand, takes more bureaucratic stances."

WHAT WILL BE THE FATE OF THE NULLITY LAWSUIT?

Touching upon possible developments that could occur after the nullity lawsuit in Ankara, Saymaz drew attention to the trustee practice in Istanbul. Reminding that Gürsel Tekin continues to serve as a trustee within the scope of the Istanbul Provincial Congress investigation, Saymaz expressed the following:

"For example, a nullity lawsuit was filed in Ankara. Let's say that nullity lawsuit resulted in favor of the CHP. However, there is still a trustee practice in Istanbul. In other words, Gürsel Tekin continues to serve as a trustee in Istanbul due to the Istanbul Provincial Congress investigation. If you remember, in those days, it was highly debated whether a trustee would be appointed to the CHP Headquarters. It even reached the brink and was abandoned. Now, from this point on, it would not surprise me if there were developments different from yesterday's practice regarding this."

IMM INDICTMENT AND COURT OF CASSATION APPLICATION

Touching upon the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality indictment prepared during Akın Gürlek's tenure as Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, Saymaz drew attention to the importance of the application made to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation within the scope of this file.

Saymaz recalled that the application in question is based on the assumption that income allegedly obtained from crime was used in political activities and that this is considered the beginning of a party closure process. He stated that the course of this process is important for Turkish politics.

Describing Gürlek's tenure as Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor as "extraordinarily intense," Saymaz said that this appointment could also be read as a form of reward. He stated that judicial practices in Istanbul were decisive in this assessment.

Stating that effective investigations were signed despite his short tenure, Saymaz expressed the following:

"He signed investigations that changed the flow of Turkish political life. Those are the investigations into İmamoğlu and CHP municipalities."

"THE SECOND MAN OF TURKISH BUREAUCRACY"

Stating that Akın Gürlek's new position is at the pinnacle of the judicial bureaucracy, Saymaz expressed that this situation could have political consequences and said the following:

"Let me say this. I mean, we wouldn't be wrong if we said that Akın Gürlek is currently the 2nd man in the Turkish bureaucracy."

LOBBYING INFORMATION FOR THE ISTANBUL CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

Touching upon possible changes in duty at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Saymaz stated that the names Fatih Dönmez and Barış Duman stand out, while Can Tuncay is being discussed for the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Stating that Dönmez is one step ahead, Saymaz noted that these names come from the team that worked closely with Gürlek.

"A NEW PERIOD FOR TURKEY AS WELL"

Summarizing his assessment, Saymaz recalled that a new process began for Istanbul during the period when Gürlek was the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, and stated that with his duty as Minister of Justice, it can be accepted that a new period has begun across the country as well.